Zoe Martindale

Zoe Martindale was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin, a class A drug. It was not disputed that another person (Payne) obtained herion in London and brought it to Andover, where Martindale lived. The prosecution claimed that he did so pursuant to an agreement with Martindale and that she suppled herion to him and others but her supply had dried uo so Payne had agreed he would go and get supplies for her and be rewarded with herion. The defence said there was no such agreement and this was Payne’s scheme to get herion from London and he gave her some to thank her for borrowing her car. At trial, Payne pleaded guilty to possessinng herion with intent to supply. He said under cross-examination that he had never been a police informant and had not received money from the police for giving them information. He also admitted he had lied in interviews with the police. On appeal, evidence showed that Payne had lied during the trial. He had been a registered police informant and received incentive and expenses payments. This information had not been disclosed to the defence. Martindale’s convictino was quashed on the basis that if the new information had come to light during trial it might reasonably have affected the jury’s decision to convict.

View Press (justice.org.uk)