Sentencing delayed

THE man who baked a druglaced cake and took it to a workplace where its consumption sent several people to hospital has had his sentencing delayed.

Graham Jones (58) brought a cannabis cake to a Glenfield workplace on December 13 last year.

At the time police said 10 people had eaten the cake. Eight were admitted to hospital, but all recovered.

Yesterday in the North Shore District Court, Judge Ajit Swaran Singh said a matter of such magnitude should not be in a list court.

‘‘The nature of the charge is quite serious; a special sentencing fixture needs to be put in place.’’

The lead charge needed to be changed to poisoning with intent to cause inconvenience with a noxious substance instead of cultivating cannabis, the judge said.

The adjournment of sentencing would allow both the prosecution and the defence to make submissions accordingly.

The unusual nature of the case also raised the question of possible mental health issues, Judge Singh said.

Jones is on bail until the new sentencing date, July 24.

He had been charged with nine counts of poisoning, cultivating cannabis, possession of utensils and unlawful possession of firearms.

He pleaded guilty to one representative charge for the poisoning and guilty to the other charges in the North Shore District Court in February.— NZME