Killer admits meth charges
A convicted killer deported to New Zealand has pleaded guilty to possession of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine, after living without monitoring since his arrival back in the country in late 2014.
At least 660 convicted criminals have been sent home from Australia since January 1, 2015, after a law change in that country allowed Kiwis who have been jailed for a year or longer to be deported on release.
The new legislation didn’t apply to Heron, because he’d already returned.
Cash and drugs worth about $500,000 were found in a Christchurch police swoop, the Crown said as Michael Heron pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court on Friday.
The 44-year-old admitted possession of methamphetamine for supply, unlawful possession of a pistol, and possession of a psychoactive substance for supply.
He told police he had the pistol for his own protection, and that the synthetic cannabis was for his personal use.
Samoan-born Heron came to New Zealand when he was one-year old, but had spent most of his adult life in Australia.
He went to prison several times for assault, theft, and illegal use of vehicles.
He was jailed in Australia in 1996 after stabbing a man to death in a bar fight in Sydney and he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but had extra time added for repeated violent acts.
He returned to New Zealand in late 2014. Because Heron had previously been convicted overseas, he was not subject to parole conditions and was not required to engage with police.
Judge Jane Farish remanded Heron in custody, and was due for sentencing on June 14.