Magistrate Arly Gill upheld a “no case” submission by attorney at law Wayne Norde in a matter involving a father and son of Picard, Portsmouth who were in November 2013 jointly charged with possession of 47, 000 grams of cocaine.
The illegal drug had a street value of EC$1.2 million.
Conrad Paul (father) and Kenroy Paul (son) were charged 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 two were arrested on November 14 at Picard 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 they (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.
One again the government lost another case involving drugs. I think the police should by know by now quick judgement too arrest make no sense. They must find a common method of handling investigation. For crying out loud. If I was the Priminster I would have my national security personnel review all drug cases before going to court or an out side investigator to review these cases. This is becoming a joke. The police must conduct a careful investigation including servelliance such as audio and witnesses. You cannot just jump into conclusion,and feel good within your department to make an arrest with probable cause it’s make no sense. And its time for the government to have more than one investigator to review this issue
Dominican “justice” is simply laughable. However serious the crime, the most you can expect is a slapped wrist. Criminals just love it here!
So what are the authorities going to do with the drugs? Would they return them to the spot where they found them?
Possession in law means to be in possession of the drug .meaning that the police should met the two men with the drug lets say taking it to the location where found , another example , say that the police did encounter them with the drug lets say on a boat that they had physical control of or if the police did keep surveillance and saw the men attending and handling the drug then this is possession but to speak about seeing and collecting drugs in the absence of the two men is no possession . These police in Dominica needs training .
we all have our opinion on this matter but it is perfectly clear for any blind fool to see that the police bungle this one big time.
Good work Norde, God will bless you.
Hmmm
Police so often find illegal drugs and illegal guns together during a bust. This time it was drugs and ammunition. Not surprising because people who will sell illegal drugs will usually have no qualms about selling illegal guns and or ammunition. Behind both is a greed for money with no care if their gain brings
harm to their fellow man.
It is the potential harm to our young people that troubles me the most. Personally It appears to me that the police are doing a great job in Dominica. It is their duty to lay charges and bring the suspects in when they think they may have enough evidence. Sometimes they get a conviction. Sometimes they do not. But they must do their job.
It also seems to me that in this case there was a “reasonable doubt”. I also think the judge did his job! Please do not talk about money being paid or somebody accepting a bribe. This is unfair unless there is proof of the same and you do not have a thread of such evidence.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
According to you “I also think the judge did his job! Please do not talk about money being paid or somebody accepting a bribe. This is unfair unless there is proof of the same and you do not have a thread of such evidence.”
It’s crazy how you had such a different opinion in Mr Francis case.
Rev, stay in your lane and pray for the nation!
well done Wayne Norde. Well done…
Only the little man get convicted
I hope that they are able to get their good name back.
They walked free but one day they will be caught.
This is not the first time the police have found drugs in a location. The drugs are placed in an area for pick up. Generally, it could be placed in the evening when no one is around. Then someone or some people will eventually come to pick it up.
I have previously stated, when you notice drugs in a lane, etc., what you do is to stake it out incognito and then you could catch the perpetrators, whoever they are, in the act. Arm yourself with a warrant when you do.
Police, smarten up! It is time to learn this tactic.
but but. so now drug man can put drugs away from their property and say it not theirs, these lawyers self their own family will be destroyed by the drugs, nonsense now. these same Paul father and son will be caught if not by officers by the owner or seller of the drugs ,
Only God knows
As usual, logic seems to be an area of weakness in the general public. It’s obvious that the police made assumptions and were in too much of a hurry to make an arrest. They did not take the time to solidify their case. But I assume that the drugs were confiscated, which is something. Those men will be under scrutiny from now on, so it will not be easy for them to return to their crimes, if indeed they were actually guilty.
No evidence no case all u D/a police don’t know that by now ggzz..
Is so u all want to charge pple? With no evidence wasting the courts time.
Even if it was theirs, u have no case if u can’t prove that it’s their.
Come on plastic cops.. gggzzz
Ok! I really sucks that the charges were dropped, but at least the Cocaine was taken of the streets. The Judge followed the law, and the police did their job. 99 days for the thief, one day for the guard; 98 and counting down.
Again, the drug is off the streets, and the defendants now know that they are being watched so at least temporarily, the operation will cease.
In Dominica it is too difficult to do any big under cover sting because of the way our society operate.
#OLD
They’s be in prison if they had a single ganja joint or had stolen a packet of Crix. Corrupt court system!
No matter how much cocaine and other drugs are bad for the health ,if the gov’t was not arresting people with drugs dominica would be doomed,,,there are two things that boosts the economy ,drugs and selling passports,,,if the population were not helping themselves the gov’t would not be able to help,what does the gov’t produce?every thing in produced by the citizens who have no choice,,,
Hmmmmm, monkey see monkey do. No law no constitution for all in the family. When the Captain runs his ship, everyone onboard works for him and only he dictates who gets off or on when, where, why and how
. The Northern section of Dca is lawless as it pertains to drug traffickers and their cohorts.
Now you guys are seeing why the northern coast guard base sponsored by the US and where ground was broken by the administration was never built. They cant even give account for the money much less. Not only that, the Capuchin Police Station was closed down because it overlooked the sea giving police a monitoring advantage of sea traffic in the area. Do you all really believe all this is coincidental? Think again.
The good old USA is watching us like a hawk over its prey
. Time will tell.
Always Assertive!
Come on Dominican, WHAT is wrong with you. Don’t you see what coke is doing to BIG countries in the world???
Government, police, and the courts should take the cocaine threat very seriously.
Cocaine especially crack is a mental health threat. It can cause a change in the personality resulting in a normal individual being unable to function successfully, and an honest law abiding citizen to turn to crime.
Cocaine in itself it is a popular drug but people
who sell cocaine often sell other drugs all the way from marijuana to heroine, and stock the new, untried, and dangerous drugs when they become available.
Illegal guns are often sold along with cocaine. When the police bust a cocaine den they know enough to look for a stash of guns. If a man wants to purchase a gun he knows anybody who sells cocaine will very likely have guns. Why is this? Simply because both are illegal. Both are a source of cash. Both are harmful and if financial gain means more to somebody than the well being of their fellow man they will likely sell both.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
I am seeing a scary trend now with the verdicts of cocaine related cases. Let’s hope it does not arrive at the stage for direct US military involvement.
wait a while… that not the same Conrad and Kenroy from 2012!?
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/crime-court-law/bail-for-drug-accused/
something really wrong with our justice system yeh
it they self,i was jus thinking tht i heard these names before for drugs, sick system, lesson learnt to police,ensure u have evidence
I read the story from the site u mentioned but can u remember what became of that case. I’m a retired police officer but I cant remember whether that case was ever heard. Same lawyer again was used as council.
TO EASY. I KNEW THAT WOULDN GO NOWEA… lol. to easy
Nice job police! Damn fools!
That was a no case submission from the start, pointing to all the evidence including where the drugs was found…It wasn’t on their personal property…
It was in a common area accessed by other persons and there was no sworn statement by the accused admitting the drugs belonged to them..
NO ONE WAS PAID OFF HERE! THAT WAS A VERY WEAK CASE!
Only in Dominica! Why even bother to prosecute? We are told to inform the police but the police is advised not to touch mr. Big. Well sniff all the white powder you want if it kills you, one less to worry about. I’m really pissed off!
They should sue.not for being innocent of course but for the the jackasness of out law.and puerile wonder why police don’t perform, when the law always slapping them in their faces?
The justice system in Dominica is now becoming a joke to the criminals and a revolving door.
Unbelievable, this is 2016, is law enforcement ready to handle crime in Dominica, what happen to forensic evidence. Don’t we have the ability to capture finger print samples on the packages found. Omg smdh, this is ridiculous.
Sting operation. Catch someone on video, or something. Lousy/clumsy work. Drug squad leader should know they have to catch someone with the drugs either on them, or trying to sell to get a conviction. That is not very smart policing. Guys need to think of the process through conviction. It’s like cutting grass but leaving the roots in the ground. Hope you all learn for next time. Getting all that drugs without any conviction is kinda pointless.
Yaba Daba Dominica. So if you are a drug dealer,then i guess you can just place your stash outside of your house in a place where you won’t see it every day. . When the police catches you they are going to to have to prove that it belongs to you right???
We live in the age of technology and its time that this crone fighting flintstones get with it. There are machines which can trace the residue of cocaine on a person even though they swallow it.
What strides have we made in Dominica when it comes to utilising new techniques of crime fighting.
That bad of cocaine must have fallen from the sky and landed on their back door or it must have been a delivery from Santa Claus that had not been picked up.
YABA DABA DOMINICA ????
I totally concur ,we have to take advantage of these new technologies. What about tracing finger prints on the containers and comparing them with those of the suspects?. Alas, we have so far to go but yet still, our leaders close their eyes.
Chinese , Arabs etc have been reporting passport some basic others Diplomatic having falling on paths leading to their homes too. In DA cocaine lands near peoples homes. lmao1
Back in the 90;s when the drug squard made a raid they would come up cran nana. People with their finger on the pulse said back then a high up in the police ranks was a MOLE.
more things change more they remain the same for the drug dealers and the cops.
So passports on one hand takes care of projects and the drugs hell maintain life in the scores of ghettos.
Economy half,,1/4, 1/8,1/16. 1/32,1/64, 1/128, 1/256, 1/512 afloat. Get rid of the Traitors was just added to the script. With Sewo currently in swing. what a perfect mix
Have been falling sorry.
Ah fighting drug is not so easy as using new techniques, which are very expensive, and take up a lot of personnel to process. The article state the drugs were found 150 from the defendant house, an area the public has access, so the defendant’s were not witness having possession of the evidence. Only if one of the 5 witness states they witness the defendant, placing the drugs there, then they would have help the police prosecutor case
I hope for their sakes they are innocent, since if you do not pay in the courts you pay on the streets.
Somebody got paid big time. Hush money / free me money / not there it was found money / all dirty money.
Wel since the judge, lawyers and police is doing their job obviously they must get paid but under the table nobody got paid. The coke wasnt even found in their possession, the police have no evidence to say is theirs.
blood money
Stupes…nonsense that.
And the drug men continue to get off to poison the young people of society and kill our future. Stuepse
Don’t worry they usually get whats coming to them, we call it KARMA. Even if you don’t notice but its happening