Grant Henderson found NOT GUILTY of cocaine trafficking after ‘brick’ of drugs found in his ute
An ACT Supreme Court judge has cleared Grant Henderson of cocaine trafficking charge despite having “a good deal of suspicion about the accused and the cocaine”.
Canberra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Canberra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Aspiring rugby union star guilty of raping teenage girl
- Allegations against underworld figure made by ‘pathological liar’
- Raiders: Meet George Williams, the NRL’s most unusual star
A Queanbeyan mechanic who was arrested with nearly half a kilogram of cocaine in the centre console of his ute has been acquitted of drug trafficking has walked free from court with only a small fine and a licence disqualification.
Grant Mathew Henderson, 39, was on Friday found not guilty of cocaine trafficking and dealing in the proceeds of crime, more than 18 months after police tailed him driving into Canberra and found a $288,000 “brick” of high-purity cocaine in the centre console of his Ford Ranger.
There was also $12,450 in cash in a shoebox on the back seat of his car.
Mr Henderson, a well known race car mechanic and part owner of Extreme Street Performance, was found guilty of driving with a suspended licence, having failed to vote and having ignored legal notices he was sent by mail.
Mr Henderson’s case was that he drove to Sydney to meet a man named “Bill”, whose surname he forgot, to sell car parts at a prearranged spot in a suburban street.
Mr Henderson said he did not know how the cocaine ended up in his ute.
Justice Michael Elkaim found that while there were “facts consistent with (Mr Henderson’s) guilt” on the cocaine trafficking and proceeds of crime charges, there were “also facts … inconsistent with his guilt”.
The trial included what Justice Elkaim said was an “extremely suspicious” phone call which had “an air of disguised communication” about it, in which Mr Henderson and his brother spoke at length about a dead cat, Mojo.
A $5 note with Mr Henderson’s DNA and traces of cocaine on it was also found in the ute, but there was no evidence the cocaine on the note matched the cocaine in the “brick”, an gap in evidence which Justice Elkaim said damaged the prosecution case.
“Unquestionably, I have a good deal of suspicion about the accused and the cocaine,” he said.
“Further, the presence of the large amount of cash suggests at least unusual dealings.”
He also said it was “improbable” someone would have left $300,000 worth of drugs in a stranger’s car, but there was a “reasonable doubt” raised by Mr Henderson’s evidence and by crucial failures by police in processing the crime scene.
Henderson was fined $500 and disqualified for a month.