$42,850 worth of cannabis, appeared in court yesterday charged with possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply.

His trial before an eight-woman, four-man jury began in Supreme Court before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward.

Michael Martino Richardson of Northlands Lane, Pembroke was represented by lawyer Mr. Archibald Warner.

Mr. Diarmuid Doorly, appearing for the Crown, told the court that the drugs were discovered on the evening of July 6, 1992.

Gavin Kennedy, supervisor at the Federal Express Office on Par-La-Ville Road, noticed a box that had not been delivered to its intended destination that evening. It was addressed to Thaddeus Zuill of Trimingham Hill.

The box was opened to determine whether any further information could be found to help them locate Zuill. Earlier attempts to take the package to Zuill had failed because his house was locked.

Inside the parcel, Kennedy found a Denitron video cassette recorder. When he lifted the VCR he noticed that it felt heavy on one side. On further examination, he found a small package inside.

Police were called and the contents were analysed and found to be cannabis. A small amount of cannabis was placed back into the recorder along with a similar quantity of Bermuda lawn grass.

The dummy package was placed in the box and taken back to the Federal Express Office.

The next day, Zuill told Federal Express by telephone that the package would be received at Cheriton Lane in Pembroke. Kennedy, accompanied by Det. Sgt.

Stevie Lightbourne, delivered the package there and witnessed Richardson signing for it in the name Richard Zuill.

Richardson was later arrested at his home.

The trial continues this morning.