'Drug money' conviction quashed

The ruling was made after the case was heard at the Appeal Court

A man jailed for five years after traces of heroin were found on £81,000 of money in his home has had his conviction quashed.

Murdo Smith was a 50-year-old offshore worker when jailed in 2004 for being concerned in drug supply after the money was found in Aberdeen.

Mr Smith said he had saved the money and denied it was linked to drugs.

Lady Paton, at the Appeal Court, said the conviction was being quashed on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Mr Smith had no previous convictions.

Case 'circumstantial'

Money totalling £81,300 was found in 2002 in a safe, a briefcase, and a carrier bag in North Anderson Drive, the court was told.

When the money was subjected to scientific examination, bank notes were shown to be heavily contaminated with heroin.

No other illegal drugs, traces of drugs, or paraphernalia normally associated with drug dealing were found.

The Crown's position was that the case was a circumstantial one.

A submission at trial that there was no case to answer was rejected and he was convicted by majority verdict by a High Court jury.

The appeal judges ruled the defence submission should have been sustained, and that the accused be acquitted.