The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

DISMISSED constable Toni Sweeting will have to wait three more weeks before the start of her trial in connection with a $64,000 cocaine seizure at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Sweeting, 27, of Coral Harbour, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday along with co-accused 33-year-old Delano Sweeting, and 33-year-old Jamaican national Conrad Campbell for the start of their trial, which had been delayed since October.

Attorney Murrio Ducille, who represents all three defendants, yesterday told the Magistrate that he was presently before the Supreme Court in another trial, but would be available for 1pm if the time was convenient for prosecutor Anthony Delaney.

However, Mr Delaney said the time was not convenient as it would clash with another Supreme Court matter.

While acknowledging that Supreme Court took precedence over lower court matters, Magistrate Forbes told the lawyers he did not want to delay the trial any further, considering that the witnesses were present to testify and that the female accused was in custody.

However, the magistrate stood the commencement of trial down to December 17.

On April 22, the former officer and her brother Delano, a pageant coach and franchise owner, faced four drug charges in connection with an April 19 cocaine raid at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

It is claimed they committed these crimes along with Campbell, who was arraigned a week later.

The Sweetings and their co-accused denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

When the three applied for bail to the Supreme Court, only the pageant coach and the Jamaican national were granted bail.

The 27-year-old was deemed a flight risk by Senior Justice Jon Isaacs and that decision was upheld in the Court of Appeal when she applied there.

When the trial did not commence in October, the former officer reapplied for bail to Justice Bernard Turner, who deferred his decision on the matter on three occasions until November 13, when he denied bail.

However, the judge further informed attorney Mr Ducille that he would set a December 4 status hearing for Sweeting with respect to the start of her trial.