Security guards' cocaine trial deferred to tomorrow
Published:Monday | April 18, 2016 | 12:00 AMChristopher Thomas
Western Bureau:
The highly anticipated trial of the two St James men who were arrested after 66 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found inside the Guardsman Limited vehicle in which they were travelling on April 20, 2013, has been put off until tomorrow.
Owen Glaze and Andrew Brown were given the new court date and had their bail extended when they appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, because of the absence of one of the attorneys for the defence.
Although the trial was expected to get under way yesterday, the matter had to be put off after it was revealed that the missing attorney was engaged in another matter in the St James Circuit Court.
WITNESS TESTIMONY
Following that revelation, presiding magistrate Natalie Hart-Hines set the case to be heard on April 20, at which time the trial is slated to get under way.
Seven witnesses are expected to give testimony for the prosecution.
Glaze and Brown were arrested on April 20, 2013 by members of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division, and the Jamaica Defence Force during an operation along the Mount Carey main road in St James.
It is alleged that during the police operation, the defendants' vehicle was stopped and searched and cocaine valued at approximately J$264 million found.
Glaze and Brown were subsequently charged with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export, and trafficking cocaine.