Golfer discharged on cannabis charge

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 4

Golfer discharged on cannabis charge

PA Auckland An Auckland golfer, Gregory lan Dyer, was discharged without conviction on a cannabis possession charge despite the judge saying he was “bleating for special treatment” Appearing in the District Court at Auckland, Dyer, aged 24, an import manager, of Sandringham, admitted the charge before Judge Maxwell. The duty solicitor, Mr Isaac Koya, said a convic-

tion would pose difficulties in international travel for the former New Zealand junior representative. Dyer was to leave to play in Australia today. Judge Maxwell asked: “Why should a white, middle-class European get off with a section 19 (discharge without conviction) when we are fining, and sometimes imprisoning, everybody else on the same charge?” The Judge said he was tired of people like Dyer

“bleating for special treatment” But he reluctantly agreed to grant the discharge, saying the offence would cost Dyer dearly and ordered him to pay $4OO in costs. The police said they; executed a search warrant on Dyer’s home and found enough cannabis for five cigarettes. Mr Koya said Dyer was not a regular user of the drug and he got it for Christmas.