Two soldiers have been found guilty of taking a psychoactive drug and prejudicing service discipline.
Lance Corporal Joshua Mapson, left, and Private Barclay Bishop. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp
Lance Corporal Joshua Mapson and Private Bishop Barclay were charged with doing an act likely to prejudice service discipline, namely taking a psychoactive substance on the night of 24 October last year.
They were part of a group of eight soldiers taken to the Palmerston North police station after apparently taking the drug N-BOMe.
At a three day Court Martial at Linton Military Camp, the court was told the men took the drugs with another six soldiers.
All were taken to the Palmerston North police station because they were being aggressive, irrational, and shouting at the sky.
The court was told today that in an interview conducted by Military Police, Mr Mapson said he did not remember much from the night but recalled spinning out, feeling scared, and being in a lot of pain.
When asked why he would have taken drugs, or how, he said he did not know and his drink was probably spiked but it was possible he took it himself.
Private Barclay said he could not remember talking about drugs, let alone taking them.
He said his mother had passed away earlier that year, his girlfriend had left him and he thought he had developed a drinking problem.
He said his drink might have been spiked, or he may have been tricked into drinking a spiked drink.
Both soldiers will be sentenced tomorrow morning.