Crime scenes investigators found three of Molloy’s finger prints at the scene, one belonging to Handley, and nine belonging to Halliday.

Interviewed, Molloy told police he had been employed by Hemus to work in the garden.

He had been told that he could use the kitchen to make a cup of tea, but that the remainder of the house was dangerous because of work going on there.

Molloy said he must have touched something in the kitchen which would explain his finger print – but he was not involved in cannabis production, he said.

Handley, a taxi driver, said his prints must have been left after he dropped and fare off and used the toilet.

Hemus said the first he knew about the cannabis plants was when the police found them.

The trial continues before Judge Philip Hughes.