Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2010
Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Nelson Daily News
Contact: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/section/nelson0303&template=letter
Website: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288
Author: Colin Payne

HOLY SMOKE TRIO ALLOWED SUPERVISED OUTINGS

After being restricted to their homes for more than a week, the three
men given conditional sentences in the Holy Smoke trial have been
allowed a relative degree of freedom.

After successfully appealing the prison sentences they were handed for
selling marijuana out of The Holy Smoke Culture Shop in downtown
Nelson, Alan Middlemiss, Paul Defelice and Kelsey Stratas were given
conditional sentences and put on house arrest - but the BC Court of
Appeal failed to set the conditions of their release.

So the three men were stuck in their homes; only allowed to leave if
they were summoned to court while things were sorted out in the courts.

But their lawyer, Don Skogstad said the confusion around their
conditions was recently cleared up in a supreme court hearing where
they were given the usual conditions handed down in a conditional sentence.

The three men will now be allowed supervised trips outside their homes
for reasons such as work, medical appointments, shopping and church.

"They'll be doing the usual conditions," Skogstad said. "As soon as
they sign, they'll be allowed to get back to work. Which is good
because all three of them are needed by their employers." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D