Sentenced: Condong Farmer Barry Grant.

[grace]

 

 

TWEED strawberry farmer Barry Grant will spend 8½ years in jail for the killing of violent drug dealer Jethro Matheson.

Mr Matheson went to Grant's Condong farmhouse wearing camouflage gear to steal Grant's cannabis crop.

He was shot twice by Grant, who later dumped his body down a gully in the Border Ranges National Park.

Grant, 52, of Eviron Road, will be eligible for release in August 2019 after Justice Graham Barr in the Supreme Court sitting at Lismore ordered his sentence begin from February 2011 to partially overlap his sentence for drug cultivation and supply.

Grant pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Matheson, 30, at Condong on January 15, 2009; wilfully disposing of his body before the coroner could hold an inquiry; cultivation of 1549 cannabis plants (large commercial quantity), and; supplying a prohibited drug - 8.14kg of cannabis.

Justice Barr sentenced Grant to four years' jail (non-parole) on the drug cultivation offence backdated to February 2009 when he was arrested; two years for the supply offence (also from February 2009); 12 months for disposing of Mr Matheson's body; and 12 years for manslaughter, setting the non-parole period at 8½ years.

Looking visibly haggard as he sat in the dock, the father of six was also convicted of diverting the electricity supply to the value of $7953.

Grant pleaded to the manslaughter charge on the grounds he used excessive defence after being attacked by Mr Matheson inside his home.

Justice Barr found Grant began growing cannabis because of financial issues including mortgages and separation from his wife.

Grant's former girlfriend Donna McClymont (who had a relationship with Mr Matheson) told Mr Matheson about Grant's crops.

In a previous violent confrontation with Mr Matheson, Grant alleged in court the drug dealer threatened to kill him during that attack and he (Grant) had been injured.

Justice Barr said Mr Matheson was "a violent and frightening man", with Grant buying a pistol and installing cameras to protect himself and his illegal crop. The pistol was used to shoot Mr Matheson, who arrived that night with another man.

Justice Barr said Mr Matheson and the other man descended a ridge using the cover of trees to reach the farmhouse, and when Mr Matheson went to the front door Grant fired two bullets into his chest.

Author: Ross Irby
Date: 16th September 2010
Source: Lismore Star
http://www.tweednews.com.au/story/2010/09/16/drug-tweed-grant-court/

[mungas]

All the more reason to de-criminalize or legalize MJ. Remove the risk & it will remove the criminal element. Tragic case you posted, Grace. Sadly the lowlife paid dearly for his greed but perhaps the world would be better off with fewer bottom dwelling maggots that feed off the work of others.