SIMPSON TRIAL EXPECTED TO LAST 10 DAYS

First Witness Walks Through Search Warrant Execution

AMHERST - An anonymous tip about Rickey Simpson's marijuana grow
operations lead to the confiscation of just under 1,200 plants in
various stages, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday afternoon.

The jury, compiled of three women and nine men, heard from the first
Crown witness, Const. Dave Baldwin of the RCMP Cumberland Detachment's
Amherst office, during day one of Simpson's trial.

Simpson, who is representing himself, is charged with one count each
of possession of marijuana, possession of cannabis resin for the
purpose of trafficking and unlawfully producing marijuana.

"I went with another member from the office to a wooded area (next to
the residence) by an ATV trial. As we were turning around, the member
saw in the backyard what he thought were marijuana plants," Baldwin
said when asked by Crown attorney Monica McQueen to describe his
actions after the tip.

Having seen marijuana plants in about 30 per cent of cases during his
six years as an officer, Baldwin recognized the plant and proceeded
back to the office to start a search warrant.

Upon judge approval, Baldwin, Const. Andrew Clarke and Const. Jeff
Mitchell executed the search warrant.

"There was a black light that I recognized as a light used for
growing. Downstairs, there were pots that were used to cook oil with
screen on top," said Baldwin.

The first piece of evidence the Crown entered was a book of photos
Clarke had taken at Simpson's home. There were over four-dozen pages
of photos, which included several of the marijuana plants. Baldwin,
who stands at 6'1", was shown standing behind a plant that came up to
his chin.

Also photographed were vials, bottles and syringes, both full and
empty of cannabis oil, a blender, coffee grinder and scissors coated
with resin, fluorescent lights, a cooler with bottles used to smoke
marijuana, bags of marijuana seeds and a bag containing 26 grams of
marijuana.

An apparatus used to produce cannabis oil was found in a basement
bathroom.

Also entered was a certificate of analyst proving the plant sample
taken from Simpson's home was cannabis marijuana, and a certificate of
analyst proving oil taken from a blue glass vial found in Simpson's
basement was tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

The trial resumes today with Simpson's cross-examination.