BRUDERHEIM MAN TRIES TO DEFEND GROW-OP

Claims The Marijuana Was Being Grown For Macros Medical
Group

Bruderheim area resident Darryl Kalyn, 53, attempted to explain the
presence of his 198 plant marijuana grow -- op due to its medical
benefits.

Earlier this year, on May 6, members of the Provincial Joint Force
'Green Team', the RCMP Emergency Response Team, and members from the
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP detachment visited Kalyn's Lamont County
acreage to execute a search warrant.

What they found in several buildings, including the home, included
198 plants, several grams of processed marijuana, 13 weapons,
ammunition and a building that had been set up to grow marijuana plants.

Kalyn was in court last Friday to have a preliminary hearing on
charges of careless storage of a firearm, unauthorized possession,
producing a controlled substance, and possession for the purposes of
trafficking.

Kalyn's defense counsel Arnold Piragoff did not ask the Judge for a
publication ban, which is usual procedure for a preliminary hearing.

"One thing that is going to be unusual is that there is not going to
be a publication ban," said Piragoff.

The Crown and defense had reached a deal prior to the start of the
hearing to shorten the hearing as much as possible.

As part of the Crown's case they called only three witnesses, two
members of the Green Team and one Fort Saskatchewan RCMP member.

Cpl Lorne Adamitz of the Green Team provided the majority of the
Crown's evidence as he detailed the property and gave Judge Doug Rae
an orientation of the acreage using a total of 70 photographs taken
at the scene.

"My role was to document the marijuana grow op and identify," said
Adamitz.

"As well I seized weapons on the property."

Adamitz testimony also included a great deal of knowledgeable
evidence about the process by which marijuana grow -- operations can
be conducted and the techniques that can be utilized.

He described Kalyn's home as being "not a sophisticated grow". His
testimony also continued to assess Kalyn's abilities.

"They had a sufficient knowledge of the requirements though," said
Adamitz.

Piragoff asked the two officers from the Green Team about whether
they were familiar with the organization, the Macro Medical Group.

"What I'm suggesting to you is that the Macro Medical Group is a spin
- - off of the Compassion Club," said Piragoff.

He also asked the same questions of the other officer from the Green
Team to take the stand, Cst. Chan Dara.

Piragoff spent some time asking Cst. Dara how it was that he obtained
enough information to obtain a search warrant to enter the premises.

The court was told that police were given more information about
Kalyn's home and activities that also allegedly linked him to
producing and trafficking crystal methamphetamines.

"I investigated this matter strictly on the marijuana grow
operation," said Cst. Dara.

Cst. Munro from the Fort detachment testified to the inquiry about
the arrest procedures as well as her activities on May 6.

She told the inquiry that she and another RCMP officer arrested Kalyn
after following his vehicle into Bruderheim to a tavern where he was
taken into custody.

Piragoff asked Cst. Munro if she was aware that Bruderheim used to
have an archery range which he said would account for Kalyn having
the two crossbows.

Given that she has only been a member of the RCMP for nine months she
did not have that knowledge.

The case will proceed by Judge and jury at a later date and has been
set over to Jan. 13 in Edmonton when the Appearance Court Judge will
schedule the trial for sometime in 2006.