A sophisticated Blackball drug growing and drying operation which led to the fatal wounding of a kiwi, landed two men in jail on Tuesday.
Eric Peter Vegneris (52) was jailed for three years, and Barry Reece William Alexander (42) for two years and four months. Both men were convicted of cannabis cultivation, cannabis possession for supply and using a prohibited gin trap around their drug plot.
The Greymouth District Court heard the drug set-up, located in and around a shed about 200m off the Croesus Track, was discovered by a Department of Conservation ranger after the severed foot of a kiwi was found next to a gin trap.
Several traps were discovered, two of which contained dead weka and a third contained a kiwi foot. The kiwi was found emaciated and hobbling around on one leg; it had to be put down.
The ranger found the shed containing the dried cannabis and reported it to the police. Police visited the shed on two occasions. The first time they searched it they found between 30kg and 40kg of dried cannabis, on drying shelves.
Police also installed cameras, which showed both Vegneris and Alexander in and around the shed.
The second search uncovered 11kg of the drug, with a street value of more than $100,000.
Crown prosecutor Anselm Williams said it had been a "relatively sophisticated operation", with the shed kitted out to dry the drug.
Mr Williams said Vegneris deserved a longer sentence because of his "extensive history" of drug offending.
Neither man was even "in the bounds" of being suitable to be considered for home detention.
Lawyer Liz Bulger, representing Vegneris, accepted there was no "gilding the lily" as far as his history of drug offending was concerned.
Lawyer Marcus Zintl, representing Alexander, said it was "really a matter of when, and not if, this offending came to light, because of the frequent use of Croesus Track by tourists".
He said Alexander was "sincerely remorseful" for causing the death of a "kiwi icon".
Judge Brian Callaghan said the lead charge was the drug cultivation, which he did not believe was for personal use.
"I just can't wear that," Judge Callaghan told Vegneris and Alexander.
Vegneris' history showed "continual use" of cannabis, which would require a higher sentence. However, the judge allowed a 25% credit for both men for their guilty pleas.
For Vegneris, the starting sentence was three and half years, which was increased by six months because of his criminal history. With a 12-month credit for his guilty pleas that left an end sentence of three years.
Vegneris was given a concurrent two-year sentence for possession of drugs for supply, and a further six-month concurrent sentence for the use of the gin trap.
Alexander was given a starting sentence of 38 months, reduced to 28 months after credits were taken into consideration. He was also give a two-year sentence for supplying drugs, and six months for using the trap.
