Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006
Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad)
Copyright: 2006 Trinidad Express
Contact:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise
public figures or officials.

DRAMA IN COURT OVER DRUG CHARGE

THERE was high drama in court yesterday, when three Sea  Lots
fishermen charged with possession of 0.03 grammes  of marijuana reappeared.

The street value of the marijuana is about 15 cents.

The accused men's defence attorney made allegations of  beatings and
threats by the police complainant upon his  clients.

The police prosecutor also refused to give a full  description of the
drugs to the court because she  wanted further instructions from the
Director of Public  Prosecutions (DPP).

All this happened amidst impassioned shouting as the  defence and
prosecution argued their case and at one  point caused the presiding
magistrate to silence them  both as he said, "Please, I try to
maintain a level of  decibel noise in my court-room."

The three stood  before Magistrate Andrew Stroude at the Port of Spain
Tenth Magistrates' Court yesterday. They first  appearance on Monday.

Attorney Keith Scotland appeared for the three accused.  Sgt Sharon
Webster-Gulston is police prosecutor while  attorney Shirley Sheppard
appeared for Customs and  Excise.

Two charges were read to the jointly-charged trio. One  alleged that
on September 7 at the Coast Guard  Headquarters in Staubles Bay,
Chaguaramas, they had  marijuana in their possession. That charge was
laid  indictably and they were not called upon to plead.

A second Customs and Excise charge alleged that on  September 6, off
the North Coast of Trinidad, they were  found on board a pirogue, from
which contents were  thrown overboard to prevent seizure. They pleaded
not  guilty to that charge.

Scotland complained to Stroude that Insp Giles, who had  arrested and
charged the men, beat them. He was about  to show the court the busted
heads of two of the  accused men when Stroude stopped him, saying he
(Stroude) was not a medical practitioner and needed  medical reports.

When Webster-Gulston was asked to give a description of  the drugs to
the court, she said she could not because  of the how the description
was prepared by the  forensics experts. She then opted to get
instructions  from the DPP.
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MAP posted-by: Derek