4 males charged in reference to a serious ganja seizure on the Kingston Wharves have been acquitted after the court docket dominated that the prosecution did not current adequate proof to assist the case.
The lads — Shawayne Gordon, Andrew Andrade, Phillip Henderson, Antoine Swaby, and Elvis Banbury — had been freed on Wednesday when Senior Parish Choose Paula Blake Powell upheld no-case submissions throughout proceedings within the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court docket. The costs included aiding and abetting the possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, and making an attempt to export the illicit drug.
The case stemmed from a 2020 seizure of greater than 1,500 kilos of compressed ganja found throughout a routine inspection by the police and the Jamaica Customs Company on the Kingston Wharves. The marijuana, packed in 13 knitted baggage and one duffle bag containing a complete of 155 parcels, was reportedly meant for export to Canada and was valued at roughly J$6.1 million.
Throughout submissions, defence attorneys argued that prosecutors failed to determine that the accused males bodily dealt with or exercised management over the transport container through which the ganja was discovered. The defence additionally raised issues in regards to the absence of scientific proof confirming that the substance seized was, actually, ganja.
Choose Blake Powell agreed with the defence arguments and formally entered verdicts of not responsible for the 4 males, who had been on trial since November of final 12 months.
The court docket was advised {that a} fifth particular person, Jermaine Minott, was captured on video transporting the marijuana to the port. Minott later pleaded responsible to possession and trafficking expenses and was fined in April 2021. Expenses towards a sixth accused, Andrew Andrea, had been beforehand withdrawn.
Proof offered in the course of the trial indicated that Minott drove a automobile carrying the ganja onto the wharves and was granted entry by safety personnel. It was additional alleged that the container was later moved inside the port utilizing heavy gear earlier than being relocated.
The acquitted males had been represented by a group of attorneys, together with Christopher Townsend, Chadwick Berry, Orville Morgan, Shane Williams, and CJ Mitchell.
