The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on trial in connection with a 130 pound marijuana seizure will learn today whether or not he has a case to answer.

In yesterday’s proceedings before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell, 20-year-old Justin Turnquest made a no-case submission through his attorney Christina Galanos concerning the charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

In November 2011, Turnquest, of Wulff Road, was charged along with 26-year-old Derez Cartwright of Garden Hills 1.

The pair were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez on one count of drug possession with the intent to supply and two counts of possession of ammunition.

It is claimed that on November 26, 2011 the men were in possession of 130 pounds go Indian Hemp and six live rounds of ammunition at a home on Geranium Avenue.

After Cartwright’s early admission of guilt and claim of ownership of the narcotics and ammunition, the chief magistrate sentenced him to serve four years at Her Majesty’s Prison, the minimum possible sentence.

Turnquest pleaded not guilty, but the prosecution did not withdraw the charges against him, as they did for the third initial defendant, Alicia Cartwright.

Between his arraignment in 2011 and yesterday’s appearance, the prosecution presented evidence concerning the accused and his alleged involvement.

Ms Galanos responded with the no-case submission, saying the evidence was vague, inconsistent and of “tenuous character”.

She recalled the evidence of Corporal King, who testified that from the entrance of the home in question, marijuana was in plain view on a bedroom floor.

A further search of the bathroom revealed a small bag of marijuana in the toilet boil tank, he added.

“No one ever inquired of Turnquest whether he knew about the drugs,” the attorney said.

She said the crown failed to prove that her client and the other defendant were acting together or were in a joint enterprise.

She added that Cpl King and Sgt Demeritte testified that Cartwright had repeatedly admitted to being the owner of the drugs.

She concluded that her client should have no case to answer.

Prosecutor ASP Ercel Dorsett responded, saying officers found a large amount of drugs in open sight in the Garden Hills home.

He said when the defendant was interviewed, he told police that he was helping to package the drugs.

ASP Dorsett said there was no way the defendant could deny knowledge of the drugs based on his statement and his having been found in the home where the drugs were in plain sight.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Bethell will make a ruling on the submissions at noon today.