If the growing cycle was repeated every three months – as was possible, as much as 60 ounces of head material could have been produced annually.
It was the first time he had seen a grower go to the trouble of constructing a purpose-built room, Detective Harvey told Judge Warren Cathcart.
The room was fully framed, lined, plastered and ready for painting. It was a “good job”, Detective Harvey said. Inside there was a plumbed water supply, lighting, heating, ventilation and a timer system, although the electrical wiring was unprofessional – probably as Holloway would also have done that himself, the detective said.
$10,000 in cash and illegal firearmsIn his opinion, the steps Holloway took to conceal the room from associates and authorities combined with other evidence including $10,000 cash hidden in a rubbish bin and firearms allegedly in his possession showed he was growing cannabis for supply.
It was not unusual for drug dealers and growers to have firearms – they were often the target of burglaries, which for obvious reasons they never reported, Detective Harvey said.
A judge-alone trial for Holloway was adjourned part-heard in the court yesterday and was hoped to be completed today.
Holloway is charged with possession of cannabis for supply, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for it. A revolver was found in the garage of a McLean Street flat, to which police say Holloway had a “strong connection”, and he was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of ammunition relating to two rifles found at the Tamarau property and other ammunition.
He has already pleaded guilty to unlicensed (not unlawful) possession of the two rifles - 0.22 and 0.303 calibre weapons, cultivating cannabis, possessing equipment for cannabis cultivation and breaching a protection order by being in possession of firearms - the two rifles. He disputes being in possession of the revolver, which is also named in the protection order charge.
A charge of being in unlawful possession of a taser was dismissed at the end of the police case yesterday after an application by counsel Riki Donnelly, who said it was not listed on the schedule of weapons covered by the legislation and police had failed to show the alternative, that this particular taser was workable and capable of stupefying or incapacitating someone.
Mr Donnelly said Holloway would give evidence when the trial resumed. He would say he is a heavy user of cannabis, that the growing equipment was given to him by someone else, that it was his first indoor “grow”, and that he had bought or swapped the ready-for-use cannabis in bags that was found and that it was intended to last him through until his own crop was ready.
Snaplock bags and tinfoil found in his home were for innocuous, innocent purposes. Money found was from trading and hidden because he had previously been burgled. He was in the process of getting his firearms licence.
Two texts police said were evidence against him were not. The first which included a query as to whether Holloway had a “tin” was not a referring to a cannabis “tinnie”. The second showed he was a user, not a seller.
