A Supreme Court jury retired to consider its verdict today in the trafficking trial of Matthew Robert Smith, 39, formerly of Nabowla. The trial heard last week that a police raid at a Nabowla property on June 16, 2020 found cannabis which could have been worth up to $194,000 if sold in street deal amounts. Mr Smith pleaded not guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of a stolen .22 Norinco lever action firearm that was found under a mattress he was sleeping on. READ MORE: Feedback on local government election calls for changes Detective-Sergeant Matthew Shea gave evidence that the raid recovered 11 kilograms of cannabis, three firearms and indications that there was a clandestine methylamphetamine (ice) laboratory. Four ziplock bags of ice were also found. Mail with Mr Smith's name on it had been delivered to the address but he was not at the property at the time. In her summing up, defence counsel Hannah Goss said Mr Smith denied that he ever intended to sell the cannabis and that it was for his personal use to turn into cannabis oil. "There is also a dispute about how the firearm came to be in his possession,'' she said. Ms Goss said there was no evidence of drug sales or a lavish lifestyle being led by Mr Smith. Mr Smith gave evidence in his trial. READ MORE: Library Tasmania's most popular books for 2022 revealed The jury heard that Mr Smith had the onus of proving to the jury on the balance of probabilities, more likely than not, that he was not going to sell the cannabis. Detective-Sergeant Shea said that there would have been enough of the drug to last Mr Smith for eight years at his disclosed rate of use. In evidence last week Ms Goss cross examined Detective-Constable Scott Templar about Mr Smith's interview with police. "He said he was not living at the property but a person named Rac or Raccoon was," Ms Goss asked. "Yes," he said. "Did he give you a real name for Rac?," she asked. "Yes he did," Constable Templar said. "Did he say Rac was responsible for the cannabis and the methylamphetamine as well," Ms Goss asked. "Yes," he said. Constable Templar said police interviewed the named man, Stephen Hipworth, but laid no charge in relation to the Nabowla property. READ MORE: Truck-N-Ute Show returns with a message on road safety "Were you aware that Stephen Hipworth has a history of drug manufacture and distribution? she asked. "Yes I was," he said. "Mr Hipworth was charged in relation to a different address?," Ms Goss asked. "Some time later," Constable Templar said. "Mr Hipworth also has involvement with illegal firearms and home made firearms," Ms Goss asked. "Correct," Constable Templar said. He confirmed that Mr Hipworth's partner Georgina Burke had also been charged with drug trafficking . He agreed that Mr Smith had not been charged in relation to methylamphetamine (ice). The court heard that one of the firearms was home made. Constable Templar agreed with Mr Hills that people involved in the ice distribution industry were more likely to possess firearms than those involved in other illicit drugs. The court heard that the loaded firearm found under a mattress was stolen in September 2019 from Beauty Point. READ MORE: The price of love: Australians to splurge $485m on Valentines Day In his summing up Mr Hills said that Mr Smith's claim that Mr Hipworth left behind 11 kilograms of cannabis and firearms at the address. "It sound far fetched and that is because it is simply not true," he said. He said that evidence inferred that Mr Smith was intending to sell the cannabis and that the firearms were to be used for protection. Justice Robert Pearce said that the credibility of Mr Smith would be a significant issue in the case. He said a verdict of 10 or more jurors could be taken after two hours of deliberation. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
