Jones was excused by Magistrate Maxwell Edwards after being cross-examined by Defence Counsel Vic Puran.

Earlier, State Counsel Simone Bullen and Paula Gilford, from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), protested the two-hour late arrival of the lawyer on the opposite side.

In the case Wayne Inniss, of Lot 130 Lamaha Springs, Georgetown and Shandy Stephens, of Lot 118 Dacama Circle, Mackenzie, Linden, are jointly charged indictably with conspiracy to traffic in 60 kilogrammes 681 grammes of cannabis (marijuana) between May 1 and 11 this year.

Inniss alone faces a separate charge of trafficking in the same amount of the narcotic by exporting it.

Both Inniss and Stephens were previously on a summary charge but, last August 12, the DPP instituted the fresh charges and the others were adjourned indefinitely.

The charges were slapped on the two after the marijuana was discovered aboard 'GDFS Essequibo' when the naval vessel docked in Barbados to participate in the Caribbean regional 'Exercise Tradewinds' in May.