PRO-CANNABIS CAMPAIGNER FIGHTS
CHARGE
Source:
Hull Daily Mail, UK
Pub Date:
Tuesday 30 December 2003
Subj:
Pro-Cannabis Campaigner Fights Charge
Web:
http://www.thisishull.co.uk/
Contact: letters@hulldailymail.co.uk
Ref: hdm171203.htm
PRO-CANNABIS
CAMPAIGNER FIGHTS CHARGE
A Pro-cannabis
campaigner is going all the way to the crown court to challenge his arrest over
possession of the drug.
Carl
Wagner, 44, whose house was raided on December 15 by officers in riot gear,
appeared before magistrates in Hull yesterday charged with cultivating four
plants and possessing cannabis leaves and resin.
Mr Wagner,
of Victoria Square off Ella Street in west Hull, refused to enter a plea in
court and District Judge Fred Rutherford said the case would have to proceed to
a trial, giving Mr Wagner the option of a trial at the magistrates' court.
However,
Mr Wagner elected for the trial to take place at the crown court - where
penalties are higher - and announced he would be defending himself.
Mr Wagner
had previously refused a police caution, declaring his arrest was unjust and he
intended to fight it.
After
refusing to plead at the court, Mr Wagner told the judge: "I consider it
an unjust law."
Prosecutor
Brian Clarke told the court that the amount of cannabis found in the house was
entirely consistent with personal use and there was no suggestion he was
growing the weed to sell on.
Mr Wagner
intends to save the taxpayer thousands of pounds by refusing legal
representation.
The
defence costs in a two-day trial at the crown court run to about £1,500 (UKP),
excluding prosecution costs and the amount of money it takes to run the court
and pay staff.
Mr Wagner
said: "I consider this a cruel and unjust law and I don't believe I should
be in court. I will go to court and defend myself to save taxpayers."
Mr Wagner
said he feels obliged to continue the case to highlight his concerns about
police raids for cannabis.
"This
is not something I particularly want to do," he said.
"I
could have just got a caution and buried my head."
Mr Wagner
said he and his family were "still angry" at the police raid on his
house.
He said
the police had turned his house "upside down" and said his family
were still scarred by their memories of the raid.
For the past
two years Mr Wagner has run a stall in Hull's indoor Trinity Market selling
hemp and cannabis-related products .
In the last General Election he stood as a Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate.