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.