[A] JURY in the trial of a woman accused of producing cannabis at a South Cumbria house has been discharged.
Vietnamese national Thuy Nguyen stands accused of class B drug production after police swooped on a Victorian property at Arnside in early February.
Nguyen, 47, has pleaded not guilty to the allegation, and went on trial at Carlisle Crown Court earlier this week. A jury was told during a case opening that a huge cannabis factory, comprising almost 400 plants and specialist hydroponic equipment, was found across two floors of the house by police officers.
Nguyen was arrested at that address, although the jury heard she denied any knowledge of the cannabis, believing the plants to be tobacco.
Today (THURS), after several hours of legal discussions, Recorder Philip Grundy told jury members he was taking the “unusual course” of discharging them.
This, he said, was a “necessity” after in view of matters which had come to light during the early stages of the trial.
After the jury was discharged, Nguyen, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody until August 3. Her case will be mentioned again in front of a judge at the crown court on that date.
