DRUG ACCUSED SENT JURORS 'LEGALISE CANNABIS' LEAFLET

Jury panel members at a cannabis cultivation trial were sent pamphlets
promoting legalisation of the drug.

The potential jurors mentioned the mail-out when they got to the
Greymouth Court House in March 2004 and the police investigation led
to the arrest of the man who was meant to go on trial, Philip Noel
Robinson.

At his sentencing in Christchurch District Court today, Robinson
attacked New Zealand's cannabis laws and still denied that he had any
criminal intent in sending out the leaflets.

He said the Greymouth court had been negligent in sending out the jury
list without the cover sheet which explained the rules.

That led to him sending it to "friends" along with other papers
relating to his court appearance.

Those not familiar with the law had no idea what to do with a jury
list, he said.

"The law of cannabis prohibition is a fabricated law, but the
Government has refused to withdraw that fabrication," he said.

"The cannabis laws are based on fabricated research and are making
innocent people criminals."

The 54-year-old chef said his actions had caused no harm and he did
not deserve a prison term.

Robinson was eventually convicted and fined on the cannabis
cultivation charge, and then faced trial for wilfully attempting to
obstruct, pervert, prevent or defeat the course of justice.

The jury in a first trial could not agree, but he was convicted in the
second trial in Christchurch where he now lives and faced sentencing
today.

Judge Brian Callaghan said the probation report confirmed Robinson's
firmly held beliefs about the legalisation of cannabis.

Sending out the leaflets had been meant to influence the jury members,
but the material contained no threats or abuse.

The judge imposed 200 hours of community work.