Man denies drug sale

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 5

Man denies drug sale

A man claimed at his trial in the High Court yesterday that he was in Timaru when an under-cover policeman alleged having bought morphine from him in Christchurch on August 7, last year. The accused, Leslie James Smith, aged 29, a motor mechanic, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of supplying morphine, a class B controlled drug, to the undercover constable, known as Graeme Anderson. The accused had been commited for trial after a depositions hearing in the District Court. The trial, which is before Mr Justice Cook and a jury, was adjourned to today after ■ completion of Crown and defence evidence. Mr G. K. Panckhurst

appears for the Crown and Mr S. C. Barker for the accused. The under-cover constable gave evidence of purchasing the morphine from the accused at another person’s home about 2.45 p.m. on August 7. Detective-Sergeant G. A. McFadgen said the accused, when interviewed denied knowing the constable and denied selling morphine to him. The accused gave evidence of being on the trip south for several days and returning to Christchurch in the early evening of August 7 after leaving Timaru about 3.30 p.m. Five other defence witnesses were called to give supporting evidence.