Defence application refused in flagship drug bust case
Guyana Chronicle
September 16, 2003
MAGISTRATE Maxwell Edwards yesterday refused an application by Defence Counsel Vic Puran, to conduct a voir dire (trial within a trial) on an issue in the case of the ex-soldiers charged following the Army flagship drug bust.
Puran, who is representing accused Wayne Inniss, had made the request on the ground that it would prove the innocence of the prisoner.
But the magistrate disagreed and set September 18 for the continuation of the preliminary inquiry (PI), after State Counsel Simone Bullen and Paula Gilford, from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), successfully applied for an early adjournment.
Detective Inspector Norris Riddle, who is attached to the Narcotics Branch of Criminal Investigations Department (CID), will continue his testimony on the resumption of the pre-trial proceedings.
Inniss, of Lot 130 Lamaha Springs, Georgetown and Shandy Stephens, of Lot 118 Dacama Circle, Mackenzie, Linden, are jointly charged with conspiracy to traffic 60 kilogrammes 681 grammes of cannabis (marijuana) between May 1 and 11, this year.
The narcotic was discovered aboard 'GDFS Essequibo' when the naval vessel docked in Barbados to participate in the Caribbean regional 'Exercise Tradewinds' in May.
Inniss alone faces a separate charge of trafficking in the same amount of marijuana by exporting it.
The remanded prisoners, since dishonourably discharged from the Army, were previously on a summary charge but, last August 12, the DPP instituted the fresh charges and the others were adjourned indefinitely.