LSD guilty verdict

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 11

LSD guilty verdict

A couple, who had a large quantity of LSD tablets posted to a fictitious person named “M. Watkins” at the post office at the Waikuku Beach Store, were found guilty by a jury in the Supreme Court yesterday of four drug offences.

Graham John Josephs, aged 27, a company director, and Wendy Dawn Josephs, aged 26, were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Casey to June 21 for sentence on two charges each of being in

possession of LSD for supply at Leithfield Beach on February 2 and 3. The jury deliberated for more than three hours before reaching its verdicts. Messrs G. K. Panckhurst and D. J. L. Saunders appeared for the Crown, Mr G. H. Nation for Graham Josephs, and Mr A. Deobhakta, of Auckland, for Wendy Josephs. The trial began on Monday. Evidence was given that the drug squad intercepted

the letter addressed to “M. Watkins” on February 2 at the Waikuku Beach Store. It contained 1000 tickets of LSD, which were said to have a street value of between $8 and $lO each. After removing all but 40 of the LSD tickets and substituting blank paper the letter was returned to the store. Next morning Wendy Josephs asked for the mail for “M. Watkins” and was given the envelope which she took to the residence of her hus-

. band at Leithfield Beach. : They were living apart and : she resided at Waikuku ’ Beach. : Detectives of the drug i squad and customs officers mounted a large-scale operai tion and entered and search- ■ ed Graham Joseph’s home • where the envelope address- . ed to “M. Watkins” was • found open and empty on a • bench top. Canisters coni taining LSD tickets were : found in the house and ■ grounds.