TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – Hillary Toussaint, one of two men caught with some $5.6 million worth of cocaine on Dec. 31, 2008, is now a free man after Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens upheld a no-case submission by the defendant’s lawyer Patrick Thompson.
Thompson argued that though Toussaint was found on the boat, there was no evidence to prove that his client was aware that the cocaine was on the boat or had anything to do with the drugs.
Magistrate Stephens agreed with the submission and dropped all charges.
Toussaint was already out on $250,000 bail.
Toussaint, a native of the Commonwealth of Dominica, was jointly charged with American Ronald Weisel with the importation of drugs, possession with intent to supply and possession of cocaine.
Weisel, who is not represented by a lawyer, remains on remand. The Crown has closed its case in the trial.
The men were caught with the illegal substance aboard a vessel ‘Captain Ron’ on December 31, 2008 at about 11:45 pm.
According to the facts of the case, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Marine Unit and the Anti-Drug and Violent Crime Task Force stopped and boarded the USVI registered vessel off Salt Island.
It was impounded and a search of the boat with the use of the Police K-9 Unit led to the recovery and seizure of approximately 56 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in a rear compartment of the vessel.
Hillary Toussaint you should trust Christ as lord and personal Saviour…
A damn good lawyer!
Remember Innocent until proven guilty.
Remember, he had nothing to prove…it was the Prosecutor’s job to deliver the case and prove the link between the man and the drugs! It’s not the magistrate’s job to try the man- the magistrate is only the trier of FACTS….. and if the fact is the Prosecution failed to prove that the drugs belongs to the accused or that there is some correlation to the accused – then the prosecution has failed to prove the man’s guilt. Thus, in ANY court of law – the charges SHOULD NOT, AND MUST NOT stand.
The law doesn’t work on conscience. The Law works on who is best able to provide his side of the story. It’s not about assumptions.. it’s about facts and proving your facts the best.
So Kudos to the lawyer for doing his job!!!!!!!!
Just as guilty men are sent to prison, so too are innocent men. So it’s always good to see when the law works – It is INNOCENT, UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope he has learned his lessons. If he continues to live by association of cocaine, he will defintely get imprisoned again.
next he will be found ridden with bull floating on the ocean
he got away so he can resume business. these r the guys who are found with bullets all over their bodies floating on the ocean ,
This Jamaican Magistrate worked in Dominica for a short while, I am not surprised by her behaviour and decision.
i wouldn’t be surprised if she was one of those in his pockets. They have lawyers, politicians, magistrates, ……..and the list goes on
Madness…Pure Madness!!! I cannot understand
Power of obeah once again people.
That’s either a damm good lawyer,or a damm stupid magistrate..lol
Nine days for d voler and one day for d guard
but the guard will soon be caught. ha ha
This guys gets off with all this cocaine and they wanted to give the guy from cottage life imprisonment for some ounces of coke? Where is the justice?
Ah sorry, I thought this case was done in DA, my mistake
Yes I! Well is now I agree is not D/ca alone madness happening. You know how many lives 56 Ki’s would spoil/kill? My God.
I agree with you.. that is just pure madness
dont blame the importers blame the consumers picture if there would be no drugs in any society for a period of 3months tell me how the people who consume it would start to behave? overcrowded jails, crime, robbery all sorts of stuff would rise killings abductions
Lucky you!!
hhhhmmmmm dem man in some big business,,,, i wonder how much years mr woulda get since they almost send the guy from paix bouche for life
that’s how i like you my boy
