The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THE bail hearing of convicted drug dealer Melvin Maycock Sr in the Court of Appeal has been delayed to Friday morning due to the absence of a judge. The 47-year-old appeared in appellate court yesterday morning before Justices Christopher Blackman, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh expecting his application to be heard. However, the justices explained to Maycock's attorneys Wayne Munroe, Jomo Campbell and Tonique Lewis, that the full panel hearing the matter was not present. Appellate court president Justice Anita Allen is on that panel. The convict is applying for bail pending the outcome of his appeal on a conviction of drug possession with intent to supply and seven other offences in Magistrate's Court. His million-dollar drug seizure trial before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell came to an end on November 1 after he was found guilty of drug possession and firearm possession charges and subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. In May 2008, police seized more than 1,000 lbs of marijuana from Maycock's rented home on West Bay Street, along with three guns and assorted ammunition. The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $1 million. Maycock faced a maximum of five years at Her Majesty's Fox Hill prison. The three-year sentence was handed down after consideration was given to the two years he had already been in custody. After the ruling, Roger Gomez II, one of Maycock's attorneys, spoke to the press about their intention to appeal the conviction. He noted that the ruling would have a bearing on Maycock's extradition case. His client is wanted by US federal officers in connection with an investigation into a multi-national drug smuggling organisation.