Woman sentenced on drug charge

Press, 31 March 1983, Page 4

Woman sentenced on drug charge

PA Auckland An Auckland woman, aged 23, convicted of narcotics charges earlier in the month had dealt in drugs only as a survival exercise to feed her own addiction, her counsel said in the High Court at Auckland yesterday. Sarah Jane Finlay appeared before Mr Justice Greig for sentence on charges of supplying heroin, possessing heroin for the purposes of supply, and supplying the class B drug, palfium, to Barry Geoffrey Chisholm in July and August. Finlay had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was convicted after a long trial in which the police produced tapes of telephone conversations secretly recorded during a large drug campaign in Auckland last

year. Finlay was yesterday sentenced to a period of nine months jail, to be followed by a year’s probation, a special condition being that she undertake a residential programme at the drug treatment centre. On the charge of supplying palfium, she was sentenced to a concurrent term of six months jail. Defence counsel, Mr Kevin McDonald, told his Honour that Finlay was “clearly at the very bottom of the scale in terms of the drugs underworld. Any trading going on was to feed her own addiction.” Mr McDonald said that Finlay’s circumstances were “pathetic” and presented “a shocking tale of woe” from the age of 14.

“She is more a victim of drug dealing in Auckland,

rather than a per- petrator.” The report of a doctor had showed Finlay was severely psychologically disabled and required psychiatric intervention. Mr McDonald said that a course at Odyssey House would be a viable alternative to prison and would effect punishment, rehabilitation and give a measure of protection to society. For the Crown, Mr Peter Kaye said, however, that there was evidence on taperecordings of Finlay saying she had “made a few grand” out of the palfium dealings and there was talk of negotiating prices. His Honour told Finlay that it was clear to him the offences were not isolated incidents and that there was a continuing supply of palfium to Chisholm.