Peter Gardner Photo: Facebook
A trial for a New Zealander facing a possible death sentence in China lasted only five hours.
Peter Gardner, who lives in Australia, was arrested at Guangzhou International Airport last November when he was found to be carrying nearly 30 kilograms of methamphetamine.
It was the biggest haul of the drug the airport had ever seized.
The 26-year-old claims he was duped into thinking he was smuggling athletic performance-enhancing drugs by an intermediary who heads a large Australian gang.
Gardner's lawyer, Craig Tuck, said Chinese authorities had treated Gardner well while in custody. "His Mum and Dad have met with him … Most people in China are detained without visitors except consular support or lawyers, but on this occasion there has been a visit with his parents, which is very unusual, and they were grateful for that."
After a five-hour trial, the three presiding judges were expected to take about a month to deliver a verdict, the lawyer said.
A version of this report was first published on radionz.co.nz.
