Lawyer facing further drug charges

File photo / NZ Herald

A Wellington criminal lawyer already facing drug charges has had two new charges laid against him.

Keith Ian Jefferies, 66, pleaded not guilty to a new charge of possessing methamphetamine and a charge of possessing a "non-approved" psychoactive substance in Wellington District Court today.

The second new charge was laid under the Psychoactive Substances Act, which bans possession of unapproved psychoactive products.

Jefferies would likely be excused from attending his next hearing, which is set down on the registrar's list at Wellington District Court in late February.

A pre-trial hearing, understood to possibly be around admissibility of evidence, is expected to be held in the High Court at Wellington earlier that month.

Jefferies' lawyer Chris Tennet said there was a disproportionate level of media attention on the case.

"I'm surprised at the level of activity for charges that are so minor," he said this afternoon. "He denies wrongdoing."

Crown prosecutor Jamie O'Sullivan declined to comment.

Jefferies was earlier charged with possessing drugs and a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine.

An earlier charge of possessing LSD was today amended to one of possessing a class C drug.

Police alleged he had the illegal items in July.

In an earlier ruling by Justice David Collins, Jefferies was quoted as saying the items found belonged to other people.

Charges came after police raided Jefferies' home, business and BMW car in July.

Jefferies' name suppression lapsed at a hearing last month.

All psychoactive products became "unapproved" from May 1. A person found guilty of possessing an unapproved substance can be punished by a fine up to $500.

The other charges carry more serious penalties but a relatively small amount of drugs -- including less than half a gram of meth -- were allegedly found in July.