A car dealer and a woman said to be five months pregnant were yesterday charged and remanded over 158 pounds of marijuana found in three cars during a police raid at their Norton Street residence last Saturday.
Kurt Browne, 41 and Rochelle Gordon, 34, both pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Police Inspector Burgett Grant, prosecuting in the case, told the court that the bust was made when the police were conducting a raid at Norton Street, Lodge. She said that the officers, acting on information, went to Lot 45 Norton Street, Lodge, where a search was conducted on three cars owned by Browne.
It was during the search that the cannabis was found and the two defendants were subsequently taken to the Brickdam Police Station.
Attorney Peter Hugh represented Browne, who he said is the proprietor of an auto dealership. He said that while the cars were at Browne’s residence at Lot 45 Norton Street, Lodge, they were still to be registered. Browne was not the only person that had access to the vehicles since other persons had the keys, Hugh also said, while noting that his client was not found with the keys for the vehicles.
He asked that Browne be released on bail, saying that he is a father of eight with no previous convictions or pending matters before the court and is not a flight risk.
Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who represented Gordon, also sought bail for her client, who she said is the mother of three minor children, is currently five months pregnant and is not a flight risk.
Although Gordon was residing at Lot 45 Norton Street, Lodge, she and Browne have not shared a relationship in four years, her lawyer said.
Gordon, who is a caterer, has no connections to Browne’s business, Rahamat also noted, while adding that she also had no access to the vehicles. As a result, she contended that the prosecution cannot prove the elements of the offence for which her client has been charged.
Grant, who objected to bail being granted, told the court that Gordon was the person who had the keys to the vehicles. She also pointed out that Gordon would have shared a relationship with Browne, who was charged before for an offence of similar nature though he was never convicted.
The prosecutor, who noted that no special reasons pertaining to the charge were given for bail to be granted, also voiced her fear that the accused might not return to court to stand trial if granted bail.
Both Gordon and Browne were subsequently remanded to prison until May 2, when the case will be called again.
