Police locate Wayne Hall’s drug crop after arresting murderer mate
Police sniffed out a drug haul when they found a wanted murderer at his mate’s Berwick home.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
ALERT police looking for a murderer at a mate’s house not only got their man, they also found a homegrown drug set-up.
Investigators were after a Cranbourne North killer who had fatally stabbed his partner when they went to a Berwick property belonging to his friend Wayne Hall.
MARIJUANA MULE NICKED BY ‘NOSY’ COPS
CROP SITTER BLAMES CAR CRASH FOR HIS CRIMES
In Hall’s house officers located Daniel Eckersley, but also saw evidence of cannabis cultivation.
Hall, 52, pleaded guilty to a cultivating drug charge at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard police attended his Berwick home on July 7 looking for Eckersley, as they knew Hall was friends with the couple.
Eckersley was found there and arrested, but eagle-eyed officers also noticed cannabis clippings at the property.
DRUGGIE JAILED FOR FAKE ID FACTORY
DRUGGIE FORGOT SHE’D STOLEN CAR
During a search they saw drug-growing paraphernalia and a room used to dry cannabis.
They also located 12 small plants, with a total weight of 4.45kg.
Hall said he grew the plants once a year for his own personal use and he didn’t sell any of it.
Officers accept Hall knew nothing of the murder when he allowed Eckersley into his house.
Eckersley has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his partner Amanda Harris in her Cranbourne North house and will face the Supreme Court again in February.
In court Hall’s defence lawyer said the truck driver had a serious knee injury and grief issues over the loss of his wife, and used cannabis as a way of coping.
He said recent drug screens had shown up negative and he didn’t use drugs anymore.
Magistrate Pauline Spencer said it was completely coincidental why police attended Hall’s home, as he had nothing to do with why they were searching for Eckersley.
She said there was no evidence of trafficking, and accepted he was growing the drugs for personal use.
Hall was fined $1000, with no conviction recorded. The drugs were forfeited and destroyed.
MORE NEWS