Christopher Cummings, the food vendor charged in January for allegedly trafficking more than 100 grammes of cannabis, yesterday led his defence in the matter with his counsel later arguing that the police did not have a case as he made no-case submissions.
Cummings, of 59 Tucville Housing Scheme, appeared at the George-town Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Dylon Bess. It is alleged that on January 11th, 2019 at Merriman’s Mall, George-town, he had 109 grammes of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.
Leading his defence in the matter yesterday, Cummings told the court that on the said day, police officers, some of whom were dressed in plain clothes and some who were uniformed, approach-ed his business and asked to conduct a search on him. He said that after they found nothing on him, they further asked to search his place of business. The food vendor said he gave them permission and some officers entered the stall while others remained outside.
Cummings told the court that the police told him to stay by the door of the stall. Later, they told him to secure his stall because he was being arrested and would be taken to Eve Leary, he said. The food vendor added that one of the officers had a black bag in his hand but he could not see the contents of the bag. He said they told him that the bag was found in a bucket which he used to throw garbage into. The same bag was weighed and shown to him while in custody at Eve Leary.
After Cummings wrapped up his testimony, attorney Bernard DaSilva, who is representing him, made no-case submissions. The attorney insisted that his client is innocent of the charge given that when he was searched, nothing incriminating was found on him. DaSilva added that the item was found in a plastic bag, which was in a bucket outside of his client’s stall, therefore making it public property. He also told the court that the prosecutor failed to prove the case against his client.
The prosecutor responded to the submissions immediately by stating that the elements of the offence was established by the several witnesses, which included police constables, and an analyst’s certificate, which was presented to the court.
Magistrate Bess afterwards informed that he would need time to review the evidence before making a decision. The date for a decision to be handed down was set for November 27th.
