Father & Son walk free as Court upholds “no case” submission re charge on 47,000 grams of cocaine

Father & Son walk out of Court as free men, as Magistrate Arly Gill upheld a “no case” submission by defence attorney Wayne Norde, on behalf of   Conrad Paul (father) and Kenroy Paul (son), who were jointly charged in November 2013, with possession of cocaine, possession with intent to supply 47,000 grams of cocaine and possession of 1 round of 9mm ammunition, without a valid license.
 
The illegal drug had a street value of EC$1.2 million. The two were arrested on 14th November 2015 at Picard in Portsmouth, during an anti-drug operation by police officers. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges.
 
The police called five witnesses to testify. Through evidence, the police stated that the drugs were found 150 feet away from the men’s house in an open area with adjoining gardens to which a number of other people have access. Additionally, the cocaine was found 20 feet from a foot path, the men don’t reside where it was found, although they have access to the area where they own a house.
 
In his submission, Norde told the court that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt that the drugs belonged to the two men, since anyone could have placed it there.
 
He said the police arrested Conrad two days after they had arrested Kenroy and he knew nothing about the drugs, and it was clear that the police did not have a shred of evidence on them.
 
He asked the court to uphold a no-case submission and dismiss the matter. After considering the evidence magistrate Gill upheld the submission, and the two men were freed and allowed to leave the court.