Two found guilty on cocaine charges

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 365, 4 December 1990, Page 2

Two found guilty on cocaine charges

Two of the four charged with conspiring to supply cocaine, following last year's "Operation Roseland" electronic surveillance police operation, were found guilty in the Wanganui High Court last Thursday. Christopher Willoughby Allum, 42, company director, and a woman whose name suppression continues, were convicted after the two week trial. The judge advised the jury that both had to be found guilty or both not guilty, given the charge of conspiracy. The jury was out for almost six hours to consider their verdict. The pair were remanded until 14 December for sentencing, in Wellington. Allum was refused bail on Thursday night but granted it on Friday morning. After the verdict was read Allum initially refused to leave the dock. Discharged Michael John Bramley, ex-Ohakune motelier and another defendant in the case, Russell Thomas Britt of Upper Hutt, were discharged from the court before the jury were asked to consider their verdict. The judge said he was not satisfied with the way evidence from a school girl witness (aged 14) had come forward. The judge said he was not satisfied that Bramley had offered the schoolgirl cocaine, which was the Crown's claim. The jury was told to ignore the girl's evidence.