Possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply

A high-speed pursuit Perth’s northern suburbs resulted in our client being charged. He was the sole occupant and therefore driver of the speeding van. After stopping the vehicle police pulled him from the van in a dramatic arrest. The strong smell of cannabis was detected. Upon searching the van, police found almost half a kilogram of cannabis. Our client was charged with reckless driving to escape police pursuit and possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply. We entered into negotiations with the police. Our client then pleaded guilty to reckless driving (not with the intention of escaping the police) and thereby avoided a mandatory jail sentence. We advised our client to plead not guilty to the possession of cannabis charge and we took the matter to trial on the basis that he did not know the cannabis was in the van. At trial our client was found not guilty of the possession of charge.