STANLAKE DRUG CROPS 'WORTH $33,000 EACH'

Cannabis grower Tony Stanlake could have been making more than $33,000
from each six-plant crop he harvested, a police drug expert says.

Six plants, four of them in the final stage before harvest, were found
in the basement of Mr Stanlake's Karori home which had been converted
into a three-part hydroponic growing operation, Detective Sergeant
Sean Hansen told a jury in the High Court at Wellington yesterday.

Three crops a year could be expected in a hydroponic set-up, with a
return from six plants of more than $33,000 each four-month cycle.

The Crown alleges that Mr Stanlake was the senior partner in a
cannabis growing business with Daniel Moore, at the Miramar house
where Moore lived.

Witnesses have reported seeing cannabis growing in two areas of the
house.

Mr Hansen said one upstairs room and the garage at the house looked
like they had been used for growing cannabis, even though most of the
equipment had been removed.

The court has been told that Moore angered friends in Johnsonville
when he left hydroponic equipment outside their flat on the day he was
arrested. He told one that he thought he was going to be busted.

Mr Hansen said the equipment left at the Johnsonville house could have
been used for two separate six-plant crops.

Nine cannabis seedlings were in the car Moore was driving when he was
arrested.

Senior Sergeant Dave Thornton said that police officers did not find
the plants believed to have been grown in the Miramar garage.

Moore's trial continues on Monday.

THE CASE

The victim: Tony Stanlake, 62, of Karori.

The accused: Daniel Moore, 23, of Miramar.

The charge: That Moore murdered Mr Stanlake on July 6, 2006, at
Moore's rented Miramar home.

Mr Stanlake's body was found at Red Rocks on July 9, 2006.

The Crown says Moore and Mr Stanlake were partners in a cannabis
growing business and Moore wanted to eliminate the senior partner.

The Crown alleges Moore hit Mr Stanlake with a mallet, cut his throat,
removed his hands and dumped the body at Red Rocks.

Moore has pleaded not guilty and told police he found the body,
panicked and got rid of it.