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~Road Scholars~
[NZ] Four found guilty after long drugs trial
Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:44am
207.69.92.19
Four found guilty after long drugs trial
15.11.2004
A long-standing Headhunters gang member and three other people have been found
guilty of methamphetamine-related charges in a lengthy district court drugs
trial.
After listening to five weeks of evidence in the Auckland District Court, the
jury delivered verdicts late on Friday night, finding the four guilty on all
counts.
Those involved were David Gerrard O'Carroll, 40, a carpet-layer from Mangatangi;
Desmond Loke, 29, a musician from Newton; Lawrence Schwalger, 29, unemployed,
from Mt Albert; and Phillipa Williams, 25, a designer from Mt Wellington.
Crown prosecutor David McNaughton said the four people were all involved in an
active drug-dealing network in 2002, but they did not necessarily all know each
other.
They worked with Iain Clegg, who in May was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison
for methamphetamine-related charges.
O'Carroll was "a standover man" who had been a patched member of the Headhunters
for 20 years.
He said he made his money through carpet-laying and various other legitimate
jobs. But he could not say how much money he made each week.
He was found guilty of conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, conspiracy to
manufacture methamphetamine, manufacturing a class B drug and possession of
ammunition.
Loke was found guilty of conspiracy to manufacture and supply the drug.
Schwalger was found guilty of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and
possession of firearms.
Williams was found guilty of conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and conspiracy
to manufacture methamphetamine. All were remanded in custody for sentencing.
