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The Citizen, 1991-04-03, Page 6t>AGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1991. Drug charges dismissed against Howick couple A Howick township couple was found not guilty in Wingham’s provincial court on March 27 on charges of possessing a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking and cultivating a narcotic. Lee Ivan Campbell, 28, and his wife Jacqueline, also 28, were arrested in September after officers from the OPP detachment in Wing­ ham discovered a crop of marijuana plants growing on their RR 1, Clifford property. Key witness for the crown, OPP Constable Dennis Thompson said the plots were found quite acciden­ tally during a random investigation of possible marijuana plots in the area. During cross-examination Thompson was asked by defence attorney Doug Farr of Walkerton if it was fair to say that there are known cultivators living in and around the Campbell area. “The Campbells were not your target, they just happened to be there. You were actually there because of other known cultivators in the area, correct?” “Yes sir. I was asked to check in Howick township as there is usually Costs increase for mailing Continued from page 1 promise it will be replaced with direct subsidies but at this point there is a lot of uncertainty about what will happen. Publisher Keith Roulston said that similar increases in mailing costs for all newspapers delivered would either force The Citizen to find other ways of delivering its product or put it out of business. He noted that while the cost of delivering newspapers has increased, Canada Post has been making deals with large chain operations to distribute flyers at substantial reduction off the listed charge. “It seems strange,” he said, “that Canada Post can deliver flyers at less today than it charged 15 years ago but feels it must have huge increases to deliver news­ papers and magazines.” Mr. Roulston said The Citizen, as a community-owned newspaper regrets having to increase costs to former residents living farther than 40 miles away but must find some way to recover the extra costs involved. “Our purpose has always been to provide service rather than a mass profit but we still have to pay our bills.” Canadians have it so good Continued from page 5 blame for their own problems until the company we work for moves to Tennessee or a new government policy makes it impossible for our company to compete. We can complain about “lazy” people gett­ ing welfare until we suddenly find we need it. Luckily in Canada it’s always a small minority, even in tough times, that needs unemployment insurance or welfare and so few of us have first hand experience. Even those people are so much better off than people in other countries who worry about actually starving or being killed in clashes between rebels and government forces or who have to live in the permanent twilight of Kuwait amid the burning oil wells. Quite frankly, we Canadians don’t have a clue about what the “real world” is about. Maybe if we did we’d start appreciating our lives and our fellow countrymen instead of tearing our country apart. some up there. A few years ago we found about 15 acres planted near where the Campbell’s are living now.” Mr. Farr then asked if it wasn’t common to have people plant on someone else’s property, to which Const. Thompson replied yes, but seldom so close to someone else’s house. A total of 81 plants were dis­ covered on the 100 acre Campbell property, about 3 - 500 yards from the house, amongst a patch of cedar trees. Also discovered near­ by were a fertilizer bag, a five gallon pail, two water jugs and two empty varethane cans. While Mr. Campbell admitted that these items belonged to or had been used at some time by himself and his wife he denied any knowledge of the narcotic. Mr. Hugh McDonald, crown attorney, suggested to Mr. Camp­ bell that it would have been impossible for him to avoid seeing the marijuana plants, or someone coming onto his property to culti­ vate them, as they were in clear view and as he sometimes travelled back to the area in his truck. “So I’ve been told. I guess I should TIME FOR TREES Brussels Agromart has teamed up with Maitland Manor Nursery to bring Brussels and area the finest in QUALITY TREEES & SHRUBS ...Check some of our prices! EVERGREENS Description Maitland Manor Bare Root Tree Specials still available til Mid April. 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Mr. Campbell stopped and said they smelled good but were still pretty green so it would be harder getting a buzz from them,” stated Const. Thompson. He went on to say that during general conversation with Mr. Campbell, the accused made reference to “Doing smoke”, drug slang used in reference to smoking marijuana and cannabis products. Mr. Farr questioned Const. Thompson about whether or not it was possible Mr. Campbell had picked the “jargon” up from any other source. “Anyone watching TV these days is familiar with those terms,” he said. While all the crown witnesses were able to prove that it was Price marijuana that was discovered and it was found on the Campbell property, there was little to tie Mr. Campbell to the actual cultivation. In his closing remarks Mr. Farr said that as the accused owned the property where the marijuana was found, it seemed logical he must own it. However, he said, there is a large property and while the evi­ dence was clear from the air it was not as easily visible on the horizon­ tal. He made mention of known cultivators living in the vicinity. Mr. Farr also reminded Judge Hunter that Mr. Campbell was co-operative with the police throughout the investigation, even suggesting that they leave the plants in the ground, so they could catch whoever planted them when they came back for them. “He openly admitted to drug use and his evidence has been credible and rational and, I suggest, presents reasonable doubt.” Mr. McDonald said there were valid reasons to reject Mr. Camp­ bell as he was cool in one instance and upset at another time. “This is a clear contradiction, a convenience that stands him in the good light for that particular moment,” said Mr. ww-gwg--------------------------------- Description Size Price FLOWERING CRAB “MAKAMIC”5 FT.$15.00 EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN ASH 6-7 FT.$20.00 ROYAL RED MAPLE 6-7 FT.$23.75 PAPER BIRCH [B & B]6 FT.$26.95 THORNLESS HONEY LOCUST This is just a small listing of the Quality trees and shrubs we will have available for your enjoyment. All trees and shrubs will carry “The Maitland Manor Nursery Guarantee’’. Trees and shrubs will arrive by mid-April depending on Mother Nature. Let us help you ^make something beautiful happen. Brussels Agromart also has available a complete line of fertilizers, lawn and garden pesticides, peat moss, etc. to round out your gardening needs. Brussels Agromart Brussels 887-6273 McDonald. He went on to say that he believed Mr. Campbell had deliberately minimized his know­ ledge of, and association with, known drug cultivators that live nearby and belong to a club that Mr. Campbell has a membership in. He mentioned Mr. Campbell’s familiarity with drug slang and with the evidence presented by the police officers. Judge Hunter agreed that while the comments at the police station made by Mr. Campbell did cause him some concern, he felt that Mr. Campbell had given his evidence in a forthright manner. He said the accused had been “up front” and felt there was no evidence whatso­ ever against Mrs. Campbell. “I can’t help but be somewhat suspicious given the amount, but having listened to him there is a doubt in my mind and he is entitled to get the benefit of that doubt,” said Judge Hunter in dismissing the charges. PITCH-IN AND RECYCLE!