Vincentian lawyer Grant Connell told the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown on Thursday that his British client, 19-year-old Warren Lee Davies, of South Wales, England, was transporting 2.5 kilos of cocaine through the Argyle International Airport (AIA) involuntarily when police intercepted him.
Davies was arrested at the airport on March 18 after law enforcement authorities intercepted him with a suitcase containing three taped packages of the illicit drug while attempting to depart on a Virgin Atlantic flight.
Police said Davies did not open the suitcase when instructed to do so and they had to use a boltcutter to open it.
“This case is a very interesting one. The young man came here on holidays and was given a package… He acted under duress,” Connell told the court.
Davies pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply to another, attempted exportation and possession for the purpose of drug trafficking and was fined $20,000 on each count to be paid forthwith or one year in jail on each payment default, to run concurrently.
Connell told the court that the prosecution did not highlight that the carry-on suitcase his client was toting with the cocaine had a combination lock and he was not even given the combination to open it.
The lawyer’s comments suggested that although his client had physical custody of the drug, he did not have knowledge of it.
“According to my instructions, he was threatened,” Connell told the court.
In his argument to convince the court that his client was not a drug mule working with a cartel, Connell said the illicit drug wrapped in tissue in a taped package was “at variance with normal packaging of cocaine”.
“It has no brand, no marking of a scorpion or anything to suggest a cartel,” said Connell who had earlier examined the contents of the suitcase.
Connell said four T-shirts found in the carry-on suitcase were twice the size of his client’s, reinforcing his argument that the contents of the suitcase did not belong to Davies.
Connell further contended that Davies was placed in a situation where he had to obey orders to “carry that” or “suffer the consequences — which is death”.
“In St Vincent, saying police will offer protection is an oxymoron,” he said.
Connell told the court that since the incident at the airport, his client had “gone catatonic”.
During his appearances at the Serious Offences Court on Monday and Thursday for sentencing, Davies was quiet and hardly showed any emotion.
On Thursday, when the sentencing took place, Davies remained quiet and watchful in the dock, with no expression of emotion and spoke only when Connell moved to consult with him.
It was also not until the prosecution and defence started addressing the matter of a custodial sentence that his eyes darted in the direction of the bar table.
He used his right hand, momentarily, to scratch the right side of his head, then the top of his head, before dropping his hand back down to his side.
But soon after, his eyes steadfast in the direction of the bar table, Davies made a cursory glance in the direction of Chief Magistrate Colin John.
The defendant then quickly crossed his hands in front of him, and his body began twitching, as if he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his clothes or was nervous.
Connell said there is a drug ring at AIA and that his client, a “19-year-old inexperienced young man from England”, had fallen victim.
After the chief magistrate imposed
Davies appeared a bit more settled after the magistrate imposed the fines with a custodial sentence if he fails to pay them.
Moments after Davies walked back to the prisoners’ bench, his lawyer turned around, flashed a smile and a wink in his direction.
When the court took a brief recess, Davies was no longer “catatonic”.
He was effervescent and used his lawyer’s phone to communicate with someone.
Davies was all smiles during his cell phone conversation.
This lawyer amazes me, to the extent that i am surprised and shocked he did not use the phrase, ” he is a virgin of the law”. He furtherwants us to buy into his narrative that the the British subject acted under “duress”. Would any reasonable person accept his narrative? Certainly not.
The lawyer wants us to futher accept his logic that he was given a locked suitcase without a combination. Are Vincentians the biggest fools in town? Certainly not, accordingly, we will not accept that narrative. As rightful thinking persons.
Did the co-erporate at the first opportunity that presents itself? You be the judge, why did he refused to open the suitcase? Why did he not name the consignor or consignee. All these are troubling questions that this so called high profile lawyer has to answer. He is a big fish in a small pond and a smartee in the land of imbeciles.
In Regina v Sussex, it states that the law must not only be done, it must be seen to be done and I rest my case.
The police claim they had monitored him since he arrived in SVG. If the monitored him and then knew he had cocaine in his bag they must know who gave it to him I this a police fit up? If they had a tip off then they must know where the cocaine came from.
Pls say who forced him.,, 😩 call nameess,,,, wondering if me name go be day 🤔
Colin bought this nonsense? I don’t know why he’s still a Magistrate strupes! Allyo know who allyo does have strength for!
What is the reporter insinuating?
Lol