CANNABIS MEP SAYS NOT GUILTY

Oldham MEP Chris Davies may be forced to face trial outside the
North-West after a judge said today that there could be a conflict of
interests.

Mr Davies, who is campaigning for legalisation of cannabis, this
morning pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing the Class B drug.

But before deciding on a trial date, Judge David Fish, speaking at
Minshull Street Crown Court, said he was not comfortable with the
politician being tried by his own constituents.

Mr Davies, of Higher Kinders in Greenfield, handed himself in to
police with a small amount of cannabis in December.

He was joined in the dock by fellow Euro MP Marco Capatto, of the
Italian Radical Party, who had done the same just days later.

Mr Richard Orme, defending, said the two politicians may eventually
represent themselves at a trial scheduled for two days and likely to
take place in August.