Jury finds Bendigo man guilty of growing commercial quantity of cannabis

Craig Hamilton Wells has been found guilty of cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis.

The County Court jury sitting in Melbourne handed down its verdict a short time ago.

The jury also found Wells guilty of a charge of theft.

Wells is due to return to court on June 2 for a plea hearing.

He was remanded in custody.

Other news

Wednesday, 2pm

The County Court confirmed has the jury has retired to consider its verdict.

The judge gave her final directions after the jury heard closing arguments on Tuesday from the prosecution and defence.

Earlier

A MAN charged with cultivating more than 70 kilograms of cannabis in Kangaroo Flat says he did not intend to grow a commercial quantity.

Craig Hamilton Wells, 47, appeared in the County Court on Tuesday for the final day of his trial.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of cultivating a commercial quantity of a narcotic plant and one charge of theft.

Read more court news: Drug driver fined after being caught at a Heathcote coronavirus checkpoint

The prosecution alleged between March 28, 2019, and July 4, 2019, Mr Wells cultivated a commercial quantity of cannabis in his Longmore Street property.

It was also alleged that Mr Wells stole electricity from Energy Australia.

Bendigo Sergeant Grant Thompson gave evidence last week that there was a hydroponic cultivation system, an electrical bypass, and $2000 in cash found at Mr Wells' Kangaroo Flat property.

Mr Wells' defence counsel Shane Gardner told the court while his client conceded he was guilty of growing cannabis, there was no evidence to show he intended to grow a commercial quantity of the drug.

"This is a case where there is no direct evidence," Mr Gardner said. "It's a case which relies solely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution case is effectively a house of cards."

Mr Gardner said while the totality of the crop was 74 kilograms, which was over the commercial quantity of 25 kilograms, the police never raised the possibility during their interview with Mr Wells that it was a commercial quantity.

Read other news:

The defence lawyer said his client was so honest in his police interview that his admissions went against his own interests.

Mr Gardner said Mr Wells, who was in debt, was "a man caught in a jam, but with a conscience". He told the jury Mr Wells was entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Prosecutor Yildana Hardjadibrata told the court while the prosecution's case was circumstantial, all of the pieces of evidence made it "crystal clear" Mr Wells intended to grow a commercial quantity of cannabis.

Mr Hardjadibrata said there was evidence Mr Wells was the only person living at the Kangaroo Flat property, which showed he was the sole cultivator of the crop.

The prosecutor said the accused "turned the house into a factory to produce cannabis", with plants of varying ages in different rooms of the property.

Mr Hardjadibrata said Mr Wells also owed people money and needed to pay off debts, which gave him a motive to grow the drugs.

The jury is expected to retire on Wednesday to consider its verdict.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: