Opium Poppies Grown at WHF?

[Holly Goodhead]

Not necessarily given that JB told him they were opium poppies.

But he didn't just rely on what JB told him.  He took it upon himself to ask Chief Sup Harris about JB's claims of a special licence and the pair walked down the lane to take a look at the at the poppies growing in a field.

Dr Craig was far more likely than most to know an opium poppy when he saw one due to his medical training and long experience in the profession ie prescribing morphine and methodone and working with heroin addicts.  All these substances are derived from the opium poppy.

[Caroline]

But he didn't just rely on what JB told him.  He took it upon himself to ask Chief Sup Harris about JB's claims of a special licence and the pair walked down the lane to take a look at the at the poppies growing in a field.

Dr Craig was far more likely than most to know an opium poppy when he saw one due to his medical training and long experience in the profession ie prescribing morphine and methodone and working with heroin addicts.  All these substances are derived from the opium poppy.

That really is just speculation, Harris didn't know anything about the license and as Craig doesn't actually confirm they were opium poppies, it's all very much Jeremy's word.

[Holly Goodhead]

That really is just speculation, Harris didn't know anything about the license and as Craig doesn't actually confirm they were opium poppies, it's all very much Jeremy's word.

I don't believe I am speculating.  Dr Craig is far more likely to recognise an opium poppy than Joe Average due to his training and experience.

Is it possible you can write to JB and ask him?

[APRIL]

That really is just speculation, Harris didn't know anything about the license and as Craig doesn't actually confirm they were opium poppies, it's all very much Jeremy's word.

A doctor friend once told me that a pharmacist has greater knowledge of drugs than doctors -a fact confirmed by a pharmacist- so it MAY be a moot ;point as to whether Dr Craig knew an opium poppy from the common or garden variety.

[Myster]

We'll get to the root of this poppy problem one of these days... but I've not got the foggiest idea why. 

[Holly Goodhead]

A doctor friend once told me that a pharmacist has greater knowledge of drugs than doctors -a fact confirmed by a pharmacist- so it MAY be a moot ;point as to whether Dr Craig knew an opium poppy from the common or garden variety.

Yes a pharmacist will have a greater knowledge of medicines than a doctor but I wasn't comparing a pharmacist and a medical doctor and medicines in general.  I was comparing a medical doctor with Joe Average and drugs derived from opium. 

[APRIL]

We'll get to the root of this poppy problem one of these days... but I've not got the foggiest idea why. 

Not to worry, Myster. It will seed itself eventually

[Holly Goodhead]

We'll get to the root of this poppy problem one of these days... but I've not got the foggiest idea why. 

It might be something or nothing.

I don't believe it has ever been illegal to grow opium poppies in the UK?  They are recommended by the RHS.  I believe June was a keen gardener so she may have been growing some in small area of a field which she then intended to transfer to the garden at WHF.  However why would JB say the farm had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry? 

If JB was lying why wasn't this brought up in his interviews/trial?  Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris obviously thought it was relevant enough to make comment in WS's and other written testimony.  Some have said it was to cause a distraction etc but much was made of JB's behaviour post murders from the moment he was told of the deaths to the time he was charged.  Eg thinking of his deceased pet dog Brambles, who he was very fond of, to force himself to vomit; eating a cooked breakfast; letting out a "chuckle" etc so if he was lying about the opium poppies to cause a distraction etc why did this fall under the radar?

It doesn't appear the UK Gov issued licences until 2002.  Maybe NB was granted some special licence for stock piling in the event of a war (morphine) or something similar?  NB and June would be ideal candidates for anything secret with their WW2 backgrounds/security checks etc. 

No comment from any of the farm employees or relatives about any opium poppies.  Bearing in mind PE took over the running of the farm in the aftermath.  If the plants were purchased through the business account then BW may have seen an invoice. 

When the relatives went into WHF post murders much was made of a small piece of cannabis resin in the safe yet nothing about opium poppies if that's what they were.

MM had cannabis plants removed from his house by the police and sent for analysis.  I haven't seen anything about opium poppies being removed from WHF and sent for analysis. 

Of course it's always possible that for whatever reason(s) WHF was doing something illegal and it was kept hushed up.  Seems unlikely but one just never knows. 

[APRIL]

It might be something or nothing.

I don't believe it has ever been illegal to grow opium poppies in the UK?  They are recommended by the RHS.  I believe June was a keen gardener so she may have been growing some in small area of a field which she then intended to transfer to the garden at WHF.  However why would JB say the farm had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry? 

If JB was lying why wasn't this brought up in his interviews/trial?  Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris obviously thought it was relevant enough to make comment in WS's and other written testimony.  Some have said it was to cause a distraction etc but much was made of JB's behaviour post murders from the moment he was told of the deaths to the time he was charged.  Eg thinking of his deceased pet dog Brambles, who he was very fond of, to force himself to vomit; eating a cooked breakfast; letting out a "chuckle" etc so if he was lying about the opium poppies to cause a distraction etc why did this fall under the radar?

It doesn't appear the UK Gov issued licences until 2002.  Maybe NB was granted some special licence for stock piling in the event of a war (morphine) or something similar?  NB and June would be ideal candidates for anything secret with their WW2 backgrounds/security checks etc. 

No comment from any of the farm employees or relatives about any opium poppies.  Bearing in mind PE took over the running of the farm in the aftermath.  If the plants were purchased through the business account then BW may have seen an invoice. 

When the relatives went into WHF post murders much was made of a small piece of cannabis resin in the safe yet nothing about opium poppies if that's what they were.

MM had cannabis plants removed from his house by the police and sent for analysis.  I haven't seen anything about opium poppies being removed from WHF and sent for analysis. 

Of course it's always possible that for whatever reason(s) WHF was doing something illegal and it was kept hushed up.  Seems unlikely but one just never knows.

OR, is it possible that in order to imply he had "friends in high places" or in order to elevate his status, Jeremy lied?

[Holly Goodhead]

OR, is it possible that in order to imply he had "friends in high places" or in order to elevate his status, Jeremy lied?

I've got 15 mins before the footy restarts.

Yes it is possible that's why I included it above.  But if he was lying why wasn't this picked up on during his police interviews and trial?  Bearing in mind Chief Sup Harris was the most senior officer at WHF on the morning of 7th Aug and had overall responsibility for the case intially?

[APRIL]

I've got 15 mins before the footy restarts.

Yes it is possible that's why I included it above.  But if he was lying why wasn't this picked up on during his police interviews and trial?  Bearing in mind Chief Sup Harris was the most senior officer at WHF on the morning of 7th Aug and had overall responsibility for the case intially?

At a guess, I'd say because it wasn't considered relevant to either his guilt or innocence.

[Opal]

I know what it's like to get attached to a certain thing when looking through the evidence Holly. I've recently been wondering more about 'Crispy'....oh no... hear we go again, I hear everyone saying  ... But could the grey hair found on the silencer have come from the dog?  This hair was never tested as it got lost in transit. The dog was in the bedroom where the silencer was used. But also the dog slept in the kitchen by the Aga in a basket!

[Opal]

Another question.... Was NB tied up? Looking at the photo that I believe is on here somewhere of NB face down after being killed, it looks like his hands are held by rope.

[Holly Goodhead]

At a guess, I'd say because it wasn't considered relevant to either his guilt or innocence.

But the "chuckle" was deemed relevant enough for trial?

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?PHPSESSID=3dnms53s9khp1p4c0ma7f63j61&action=dlattach;topic=1056.0;attach=2206

[Holly Goodhead]

I know what it's like to get attached to a certain thing when looking through the evidence Holly. I've recently been wondering more about 'Crispy'....oh no... hear we go again, I hear everyone saying  ... But could the grey hair found on the silencer have come from the dog?  This hair was never tested as it got lost in transit. The dog was in the bedroom where the silencer was used. But also the dog slept in the kitchen by the Aga in a basket!

Is that a polite way of telling me I'm obsessive