Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jul 2001
Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 The Dominion
Contact:  http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/128

HYDROPONIC DRUG HOUSE EARNS JAIL

A commercial cannabis grower who managed a hydroponic growing house 
capable of earning more than $100,000 a year was sentenced to 2-1/2 
years' prison yesterday after appearing in the High Court at 
Wellington.

Edward Charles Murray, 31, was arrested in March, after police 
executed search warrants at a house in Upper Hutt and were then led 
to a house in Lower Hutt, crown prosecutor Ian Murray said.

Three of the bedrooms in that house were fitted with sophisticated 
hydroponic equipment, he said.

The accused told police he had set up the operation for himself, and 
had intended to run it for a year to earn enough to buy himself a 
house, a car and a boat. Police estimated that the crop was 
conservatively worth $20,000, and it would be possible to raise six 
crops a year, earning more than $100,000.

Defence lawyer Paul Surridge told Justice Doogue that his client "had 
not the wherewithal or knowledge" to set up the sophisticated 
operation on his own. Police believed he had been only the caretaker 
of the property for two others, one of whom was on the run, and the 
other who had not yet been to trial, Mr Surridge said.
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