NZ Designer accused of drug dealing | New Zealand

NZ Designer accused of drug dealing

A former high-profile fashion designer has gone on trial accused of running a massive commercial cannabis growing operation.
Jason Crawford was behind the label Insidious Fix, but it's alleged his main business was drug dealing. "Whilst the Insidious Fix outfit was ostensibly taking place in Gloster Park Avenue,
there wasn't a lot of room left over for anything else except to grow cannabis," says Crown prosecutor Bruce Northwood.

Police raided a property leased by Frances Kitson, in which more than 200 cannabis plants were seized, in what the Crown says was a well organised nursery.

Kitson was jointly charged with Crawford and pleaded guilty on Friday.

However there were no plants found on Crawfords premises.

"Somehow, the accused became aware that the police were onto them," said the prosecutor.

But Crawford says he had no knowledge of the cannabis operation and that he was far too busy running his legitimate business

"The Crown said it takes a lot of time. Well he was pretty busy. Not only was he designing, but he was making the goods, requiring a tremendous amount of time. He employed 17 staff," said Gary Gotlieb, the defence lawyer.

The Crown says it will also present evidence that Crawford received a range of stolen goods including large machinery, a ride on mower and a campervan.

But Crawford's defence says much of what looks incriminating evidence can be explained by the involvement of others.

The trial is set to run for two weeks.

http://tvnz.co.nz/

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