The mastermind behind a Bay of Plenty P-making operation that blew up in a massive explosion has lost an appeal to have his 10-year jail term reduced.
Karl Rodney Goldsbury was last year sentenced to 10 years behind bars for his involvement in a drug ring supplying methamphetamine (P) in the Bay of Plenty. A minimum five year non-parole period was also imposed.
Karl Rodney Goldsbury has lost his appeal against his 10-year sentence. Photos: File.
The 39-year-old was found guilty at trial in Rotorua last July of supplying the drug, supplying and possession precursor substances and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The latter charge stemmed from a fire at a Katikati shed, being used as a P-lab, in December 2012. It was alleged the fire was deliberately lit to destroy evidence during a police raid at the property.
The former KingKat factory burst into flames with neighbours reporting seeing balls of smoke coming from the property at the time of the incident.
More than 20 firefighters spent around five hours trying to control the blaze.
After sentencing, Goldsbury took the case to the appeal court with his lawyer Paul Mabey QC claiming that the sentence was "manifestly" excessive.
One of Goldsbury's co-accused, David Ryan Carrol, 34, also joined the appeal, stating that if Goldsbury succeeded in getting a reduction, so should he.
However, the Appeal Court found that the trial judge had thoroughly considered all of the relevant evidence and the sentence was just given those conclusions. They dismissed Goldsbury's appeal and that of his co-accused David Carroll.
At trial the jury heard that Goldsbury had supplied Meth to members of the Gisborne Mongrel Mob in October 2012, who were later arrested on their drive back home.
He was also found to have bought and supplied material used in the manufacture of methamphetamines.
It was also revealed that on December 9, 2012, when the armed offenders squad arrived at the Katikati shed being used to make the methamphetamines, Goldsbury destroyed equipment being used to make the Meth and then set fire to the shed.
The former KingKat factory burst into flames in December 2012.
4 comments
Really...?
Posted on 18-05-2015 13:09 | By penguin
So the lawyer was...
Drug s
Posted on 18-05-2015 14:12 | By subieagle
Ship him to Bali
Comit the crime and do the time!
Posted on 18-05-2015 20:00 | By monty1212
There's no appeal for the people who have had there lives ruined by this drug so why appeal for the criminal responsible for the distribution?
So, perhaps
Posted on 19-05-2015 10:24 | By earlybird
when a scumbag such as this, caught making a substance that brings profits to himself and misery to his 'customers', tries to appeal his sentence in this manner, maybe when he loses that appeal the sentence should automatically be doubled. I know there are plenty of appeals that are justified but this one is not one of those. He'll be out in 5 years whereas some of his customers will face a life sentence of addiction.
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