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Summarized by Kent Larsen
2 Accused of Giving Missionaries Marijuana Cookies Convicted
Melbourne Australia The Australian 18Dec99 D2
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA -- The bizarre case of two men accused of giving
two LDS missionaries cookies laced with marijuana ended Friday with
their convictions. Alexander McLean, 47, was sentenced to two months in
jail while Douglas James Lynch, 40, was fined $450. McLean's sentence
was suspended for 12 months, and he says that he will appeal.
Elders Tom Pettit and Andrew Housley told reporters Friday that they
would be wary in the future of freshly baked treats because the cookies
offered them by McLean and Lynch in May put them in the Hospital. The
missionaries were offered and ate up to 12 cookies each, which McLean
and Lynch each had no more than three.
Lynch and McLean told reporters after sentencing that they had nothing
against the two missionaries, "If they knock on our door again they are
quite welcome to come in, have a cup of coffee and a biscuit," McLean
said.
During sentencing, Magistrate Margaret Harding said McLean and Lynch had
broken the "particular trust" the public has a right to expect when
visiting someone else's home. But the magistrate dismissed charges of
recklessly causing injury, administering a substance likely to interfere
with a bodily function and introducing a drug of dependence.
The Elders said they simply wanted to get on with their work, "We feel
that this case is a reflection of the (drug) problem that is plaguing
many nations at this time ... both in the mental and physical health of
individuals," said their attorney, Mr. Housley. Elder Pettit added,
"It's definitely taken us away from our normal duties, and from the
purposes of being here in Australia. We're definitely looking forward to
getting this behind us and getting back to our normal jobs."
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