SEED CLAIM DOESN'T FLY WITH JUDGE

He did not say whether it made them fly higher or faster but a West Coast
man claimed in the Greymouth District Court yesterday that cannabis seeds
enhanced the performance of racing pigeons.

Craig Russell Brand, 19, said he had bought the 512 cannabis seeds found in
his possession as bird seed. Birds fed cannabis seeds were superior to
others, he said.

But Judge Christopher Somerville poured scorn on the explanation. "Anyone
who tells me cannabis seeds enhance the performance of racing pigeons must
believe judges were born yesterday," he said. The seeds were the least of
Brand's problems. He also had to explain a sawn-off semi-automatic .22 rifle
and 31 rounds of ammunition found in a wall recess when police visited his
home.

Brand initially said the weapon was his and he used it for shooting possums
but then said it belonged to another man whom he was too scared to name.

Judge Somerville remanded Brand on bail for sentencing on January 23. Judge
Somerville told him if he had identified the real owner of the weapon by
then he might escape a prison sentence.