The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO pilots will have their application for bail to the Court of Appeal heard next month, six days before they are scheduled to stand trial in connection with the recent seizure of more than $1m worth of drugs at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Darryl Bartlett, the 37-year-old son of a senior official at the Attorney General’s office, and 48-year-old former policeman Murrilo Sullivan appeared in the appellate court yesterday having been denied a bond in the Supreme Court two weeks ago.

They and their attorney, Murrio Ducille, asked Justices Christopher Blackman, Stanley John and Neville Adderley for an extension to be heard on an application for bail.

The extension application, initially opposed by Crown prosecutor Terry Archer, was granted though the judges noted they were “not minded” to hear the application for bail during the proceedings.

The court said it would adjourn the matter to June 13.

Six days after the scheduled appellate court hearing, Bartlett and Sullivan are expected to stand trial before Magistrate Andrew Forbes with 23-year-old Michael Webster, of Quebec, Canada.

They each face three counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs and importation of dangerous drugs.

The three, who all pleaded not guilty to the charges when arraigned in Magistrates Court on April 10, face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the crimes alleged to have been committed on April 7.

Officers and administrators of the Drug Enforcement Unit acted on a tip that led them to the Executive Flight Support section at the airport. A search was conducted of a Hawker Jet that had just arrived from Montreal, Canada. During the search, officers found four suitcases containing 149 lbs of marijuana, 17.4 lbs of ecstasy pills and 2.6 lbs of Hashish oil.

The marijuana has a street value of $670,000, the ecstasy pills are worth $360,000 and the hashish oil $20,000.