Delay in drug trial blamed on scientist shortage

11.45am

Drug testing delays by Environmental Science and Research (ESR) scientists mean a Murupara man accused of manufacturing methamphetamine could wait 18 months before a trial.

Craig Mulder has been granted bail after already spending seven months in custody. His lawyer, Bill Lawson, is considering challenging the delay through the Bill of Rights Act.

Mr Lawson said yesterday that 18 months, on top of seven months, was a long time for someone to "sit and wait for a trial".

Mulder and his partner, Kaa Taoho, both from Murupara, were to go on trial in the High Court at Rotorua last week.

However the trial had to be postponed because of chronic delays in drug testing at ESR.

The couple faces charges relating to manufacturing methamphetamine -- known as speed or P -- at two properties in Murupara in June last year.

Their trial could not go ahead as substances found at the Murupara houses have not yet been tested by the ESR.

Ms Taoho had already been granted bail.

In an affidavit presented to the High Court last Monday, ESR said the laboratory team had 170 cases to process.

It gets about 25 new cases each month and is only able to process 15 of them, creating a growing backlog of 10 cases a month.

Justice John Priestley, who has previously commented on alarming delays in bringing those accused of P-related matters to trial, said the scientists' predicament made "pessimistic" reading.

He said the backlog showed there was a worldwide shortage of trained scientists to deal with methamphetamine cases.

Rotorua Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon said if ESR deemed the case to be a high priority, it could be heard in three months. Otherwise, it could take up to 18 months.

Justice Priestley said it would be alarming if the case was not heard by mid-year. He granted bail and adjourned the case until April 7 for a callover.

Justice Priestley spoke out about lengthy delays in methamphetamine-related cases in December, when he remanded a man in custody for 15 months while he awaited a trial.

He said at the time the delays were unacceptable for police and society and ordered his comments be passed on to the Government.

ESR said in a briefing paper to the Government at the end of last year that staff dedicated to laboratory testing had increased from four in 2001 to eight, but more scientists were needed to cope.

It said it would not be easy to increase staff numbers as it took two years of extra training for a forensic scientist to qualify as a laboratory investigation chemist.

Recruiting from overseas was also not easy because of a worldwide boom in clandestine P labs.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)

Herald Feature: The P epidemic