Drug overdoses spark prosecution

Two fishermen who overdosed on liquid morphine last week had gone to the home of a Nelson man on the methadone treatment programme to inject the drug, a court has heard.

Jason Philip Murray, 37, appeared in the Nelson District Court on Tuesday and admitted possessing three class B and C drugs and allowing his house to be used for consumption of morphine.

Prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer said that Murray was at home with two men on the evening of October 2.

At 9.30pm he called an ambulance as he found both men unconscious and unresponsive.

Both had been injecting themselves with liquid morphine and drinking alcohol, Mr Stringer said.

Ambulance officers spent about 15 minutes at the house before the men regained consciousness and were taken to Nelson Hospital.

Police searched the house and found a syringe filled with liquid morphine, Mr Stringer said.

Morphine sulphate tablets had been crushed so they could be injected. Police also found instruments that helped with the process and a large quantity of used needles, Mr Stringer said.

The class C drug Rivotril and 10g of poor quality cannabis leaf were also found.

Murray told police the two men were fishermen who had come to his house to use morphine and he did not know their names, Mr Stringer said.

Murray had been very cooperative with police and ambulance staff, which may have helped the two men regain consciousness.

Defence lawyer Tony Bamford said Murray was a recipient of the methadone treatment programme and had no previous convictions for drug offences.

He said the drugs had belonged to Murray and he had carried out an emergency act for his companions.

Judge Tony Zohrab said the offences were serious but Murray had written a letter explaining his actions, and he had read this with interest.

He called for a probation officer's report and ordered Murray to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.

Murray was remanded on bail until November 13 for sentencing.