Sick man escapes time in prison

A seriously ill man whose house was used as a drug lab was sentenced yesterday to three months’ jail, suspended immediately.

Leslie Ronald Clarke appeared in Darwin Magistrate’s Court after police raided his Adelaide River home and found precursors to the drug methylamphetamine, a quantity of the drug, unregistered and unsecured air gun and cannabis.

Clarke’s lawyer Julie Franz told the court that convicted drug manufacturer Malcolm Tschirpig had stayed at her client’s house.

But he did not realise at first Tschirpig had stayed at her client’s house.

But he did not realise at first Tschirpig was using the premises to manufacture drugs.

“It became obvious Tschirpig was up to no good,” she said.

“(Clarke) was working up to challenge him but he felt he needed him there.”

Ms Franz said her client needed Tschirpig there because he had blackouts and had to get to Darwin for treatment.

Clarke was fined about $800 for the firearm and cannabis offences.

His sentence was suspended for 18 months.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 11 March 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/