Deon Layne, the man charged over the cocaine-laced SSS multi-vitamin tonic that claimed the lives of four persons after they ingested it, is now free after a court found insufficient evidence to prove him guilty.
At yesterday’s ruling, the prosecution relied on its submissions presented last Friday that a prima facie case had been made out against Layne, 34, of HH Freeman Street, East La Penitence, who was charged with having 252 grammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on May 2, 2014.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt contended that the evidence showed that Layne had possession, knowledge and control of the illegal drug at the material time.
Additionally, Hunt noted that the witnesses were not discredited during the trial. Layne was well-known to those who testified against him, Hunt added, while noting that Candacy McGarrell positively identified him as the person who brought the cocaine-laced tonic to the East La Penitence residence where she was staying for her it to carry to his girlfriend in the United States.
However, in her ruling, Magistrate Judy Latchman emphasised that the court did not find enough evidence against Layne to prove him guilty of the charge.
The magistrate stated that McGarrell, in her testimony, observed that the bottle containing the tonic was sealed. She further disputed the prosecution’s case that it proved that the defendant had knowledge and control of the item, since no evidence pointed clearly to him as the person responsible for putting the drugs in the bottle. Further, she noted that he did not return for the item after it was left at the East La Penitence residence, where the deceased would later consume it.
The magistrate also pointed out that there was no evidence in relation to the packaging of the items.
With the charge against him dismissed, Layne subsequently walked out the court a free man.
Former army officer Alex Blair, 40, his reputed wife, hairdresser Simone Price, 36, their son, Jahaquel Blair, 6, a student of the St Pius Primary School and a family friend Natasha George, 36, who was an employee of John Fernandes Limited, died after drinking from the cocaine-laced tonic. Jamal Waterman, 12, who also ingested the tonic, survived.
Police had said Layne left the bottle of SSS Tonic with the dissolved cocaine at the house, along with casareep and chicken foot, for McGarrell. However, McGarrell, who was visiting from the United States, did not carry the items and the victims later consumed some of the tonic.
Layne was apprehended two months after the deaths and he had maintained his innocence throughout the trial after he was charged last May.
