This isn't like CSI, jurors told

A judge told jurors to put sympathy and prejudice aside when deciding the fate of a Northland man charged with cultivating and possessing nearly 200 cannabis plants.

Judge Josephine Bouchier said courtrooms were not about CSI shows and told the jury in the Whangarei District Court during her summing up yesterday to decide the case solely on the evidence.

A man, 42, who has name suppression, is facing one charge of cultivating cannabis and another of possession of cannabis for supply. The jury was still deliberating after retiring about 3.30pm yesterday.

Crown prosecutor Richard Annandale said in his closing address, after evidence over six days, that there was little doubt police located a lot of cannabis at a Northland farm property.

Evidence linked the accused to the cultivation of 178 mature cannabis plants and 409 cannabis stems worth an estimated $813,000.

Mr Annandale said the man was in control of the property and was there when a plane flew over and the plants were spied.

The man was also spotted there a second time.

Ken Bailey, for the defence, told the jury to focus on the answers given by witnesses to questions lawyers had asked during the trial.