27/06/2007 00:00:00
UK: Drug grower vows to fight on (Neil Morgan)
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A WEST Wales man has been convicted of growing cannabis plants, but has
vowed to fight on. Neil Christopher James Morgan, 52, thanked the jury
at Swansea crown court for finding him guilty as he could now take his
case to a higher court. Morgan said he intended to end up in the
European Court of Human Rights, where he would argue that it had been
illegal for the Crown to have prosecuted him. Morgan was found to be
growing 101 cannabis plants in caravans he owned and lived in amid
woodland off the B4333 Newcastle Emlyn to Cynwyl Elfed road. He felt so
confident that Article Eight of the Human Rights Act guaranteed him a
private life that he lit a ‘reefer’ cigarette in front of the arresting
officers. Morgan argued that, under that particular article, he was
entitled to grow whatever he wished as long as no-one else became
involved and that he consumed the cannabis himself. Inspector Richard
Lee had told the court how Morgan volunteered several quantities of
cannabis stored in various parts of the first caravan to be searched. In
two other caravans close by they found 101 cannabis plants. Each van had
its own generator attached. Morgan was arrested and taken to Ammanford
police station, where he refused to answer any questions. Morgan, who
represented himself during the trial, had denied a charge if cultivating
cannabis on the basis that it was not illegal. Dyfed Thomas,
prosecuting, told the jury during his opening address, “Growing cannabis
is illegal. That is the law in this country.” Morgan was granted bail
until a sentencing hearing in July.
comment:
http://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/today/options/news/newsdetail.cfm?id=42621#
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12641
Author:
Okehampton Today via UKCIA
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