Selwyn_Times: July 06, 2022

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Selwyn Times Wednesday July 6 2022 10 NEWS Accused no stranger to crime MCMEEKAN WAS jailed for seven years nine months in 2015 for his involvement in a drugs courier operation. Then aged 34, he was sentenced on two charges of possession of methamphetamine for supply, two of unlawful possession of a pistol, possession of implements for using methamphetamine, dealing in methamphetamine, and possession of cannabis for supply. After he had been arrested at a motel in Blenheim Rd and bailed, he arranged for other people to fly to Auckland and uplift methamphetamine and bring it to his address, Court News website reported. Two people were stopped by police at the Christchurch Airport, and found the drugs on a woman. When they searched McMeekan’s house they found a loaded shotgun, and charged him with possession of the shotgun, possession of methamphetamine, and supplying methamphetamine. McMeekan also made headlines in 2009 when he appeared in court with another man for what was described as a Dukes of Hazzard style raid on a Christchurch car yard where a car was jumped over the low perimeter fence. • By David Clarkson A TRIBESMEN gang prospect has admitted his role in shifting millions of dollars of methamphetamine around the country during Covid lockdown. Police seized a shipment worth between $2 and $3 million in May 2020, and in the High Court at Christchurch last week, Tamal Edward McMeekan admitted possession of the drugs for supply. The Crown is seeking to seize $38,834 in cash the police found in a car and at the Bryndwr property when they carried out their search. Justice Rob Osborne remanded McMeekan in custody for sentencing on October 5, but did not enter convictions because that would likely stop him attending anger management and parenting courses in prison. Defence counsel Thomas Harre said he would seek a cultural report and psychiatric report on McMeekan ahead of sentencing. Justice Osborne has asked for a pre-sentence report by Community Probation. McMeekan, 41, admitted charges of meth possession for supply, possession of cannabis, a breach of the Covid lockdown rules in May 2020, and failing to assist an officer doing a search by denying access Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Guilty plea to meth supply to his cellphone. Before his guilty pleas, the case had been heading for trial. Crown prosecutor April Mills said the police’s Canterbury Organised Crime Unit began Operation Soul, which was an investigation into drug dealing activities by members and associates of the Canterbury-based Tribesmen Motorcycle gang in October 2019. The investigation showed the Canterbury-based Tribesmen and associates were regularly involved in the purchase of significant quantities of methamphetamine from Aucklandbased supplies. The meth would be distributed to various South Island dealers. McMeekan was a gang prospect. The Crown said that the national Covid emergency lockdown was declared in March 2020, and while the country was in level 3 lockdown with limits on travel, movements and associating with others, McMeekan arrived in Christchurch from Wellington on May 3. He had no legal basis allowing the travel. The next day, police swooped in when McMeekan and another man arrived in a car at a Bryndwr address. The other man has already admitted charges and is due for sentence in August. At McMeekan’s feet was a cardboard box containing three plastic bags with almost 3kg of methamphetamine with a street value of $2 to $3 million. Cash totalling $38,834 was found in 10 locations throughout the house and garage, the car, and in a shoulder bag belonging to McMeekan. The shoulder bag also had cannabis inside. In the other offender’s bedroom, the garage, and a sleepout, 35 used Prezzy cards worth more than $8500 were found. They are a non-traceable credit card payment form that can be used in person, or online. McMeekan refused to give a detective constable the PIN code for his cellphone. He gave no explanation for his travel during lockdown. The Crown said: “The investigation established the Christchurch Tribesmen gang were involved in transporting significant sums of money to enable the purchase of up to 3kg to 4kg of methamphetamine at a time. “McMeekan was likely utilised by the gang due to his expertise with motorcycles, ability and flexibility to travel domestically to facilitate TMC drug offending around New Zealand, and his loyalty to TMC. “It is not believed that the defendant McMeekan held any degree of control or influence in the criminal enterprise, nor would he have received significant financial reward for his involvement.” THE 2022 LOCAL ELECTIONS Your enrolment pack is on its way. Check it to make sure you’re enrolled and ready to vote in the local elections. 0800 36 76 56 vote.nz
Be a Stormwater Superhero with the CAR. Get it on the grass. Wednesday July 6 2022 Selwyn Times Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz NEWS 11 Love of gardening keeps 99-year-old fit HAPPY PLACE: Venus Bailey at work in her garden. • By Susan Sandys VENUS BAILEY grows her own vegetables, saws branches from trees, and gets down on her hands and knees to pull out weeds. The 99-year-old of Lincoln says gardening keeps her fit, and happy. “Gardening is just a way of enjoying life.” This year Venus is celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Springston Garden Club alongside other club members. She is patron of the club and a founding member, having gone along to its first meeting after being asked by her mother-in-law Agnes Bailey. The mother of four was farming at Springston with husband Colin at the time, and jumped at the opportunity. She said her love of gardening was just as strong then as now, with her particular passion being for all plants that flower. “You just look at a bare branch and in the next few months, out comes a beautiful flower. I think nature is a real miracle.” Venus said her late husband had also enjoyed gardening, and the couple were able to indulge in their hobby even more once they retired off the farm in their 60s to a five-acre block at Prebbleton. Here they cultivated a large vegetable patch alongside a flowering network of Venus’s favourite shrubs and bushes such as chamellias, roses and rhododendrons. Today on her smaller section at STRENGTH: Springston Garden Club founding member Nancy Williams (left) and immediate past president Lynette Windle at the club’s 65th annual meeting. Lincoln, Venus still has many of those favourites, alongside flourishing garden beds and vege patch which yields broccoli, leeks, silver beet, cabbages and runner beans. “I don’t have any set time for gardening, sometimes I will put a winter coat on and go outside because you get tired of being in the house,” Venus said. “If I go out and hang clothes next thing I know I’m pulling weeds. I do a bit and sit down and have a look at it, and see what I want to cut back.” She saws off wayward branches, although has someone to come in and help with bigger jobs as well as to mow the lawns. Venus, who turns 100 in March next year, said it was great to see the club have its 65th anniversary. It had been a supportive and friendly club to many. Immediate past president Lynette Windle said the club was still going strong, with about 100 members. “This shows the love of plants, trees and shrubs is strong still,” Lynette said. It had held its annual meeting recently, acknowledging its two founding members of Venus, and Nancy Williams of Rolleston. BE A STORMWATER SUPERHERO ecan.govt.nz/stormwater PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS
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Selwyn_Times: July 06, 2022

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