JAN 24

It's been a busy period for Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark.
The island's leading female magistrate has had to confront a number of lawyers representing clients ranging from suspected bank robbers to persons facing possible extradition to the united States on cocaine-running charges.

Two South St. George men, Stephen Carrington, 25 and Anderson Richard Farray, 24, have been remanded to the Richmond Hill prison in connection with the January 5-6 break-in at the Grand Anse branch of First Caribbean International Bank (FICB). The suspects made away with $5000.00 in one dollar coins before members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) moved in on them.

Carrington and Farray will re-appear in court on February 3 when the Chief Magistrate is expected to start the Preliminary Inquiry into the indictable offence brought against the two Grand Anse men.

The Chief Magistrate also has a battle on her hands with a battery of lawyers trying to prevent the State from sending four nationals to the United States to stand trial for the illegal exportation of cocaine.

The lawyers are expected to present submissions before the Court next week challenging the constitutionality of the State's decision to have their clients handed over to the United States government to face illegal drug charges.
The four Ralph Blackman (Fatman) of Woburn, St. George's, Andrew Mc. Burnie (Snoop) and Ricardo Lewis (Ricky) both of La. Mode along with Devon "Dapper" Thomas of Morne Toute are presently before Chief Magistrate Mark for extradition Hearings.

The locals are reportedly wanted by the US government to answer charges relating to the sale of Cocaine in Washington.

Top local Constitutional lawyer, former Attorney General, Dr. Francis Alexis is expected to put forward arguments on the motion on behalf of the four before a judge of the high court.

When the suspects appeared at the Number 1 Magistrate Court on Monday, Dr. Alexis requested that some of the telephone conversations that were submitted in evidence by the State on behalf of the US government be thrown out by the Chief Magistrate.

This was turned down by Magistrate Mark following arguments put forward by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson who informed the Court that the proceeding is an extradition hearing and not the actual trial itself.

Dr. Alexis then told the Court that the defence do intend to call several witnesses including those associated with the case in the United States.

Nelson who is leading the evidence on behalf of the US government has since announced that he does not intend to call any more witnesses.

During Monday's hearing Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adrian Hayes along with Inspector of Police in charge of the Drug Squad, Esau Pierre gave evidence in the extradition proceedings.

Besides Dr. Alexis, the other members of the legal defense team are Ruggles Ferguson, Peter David and Derek Sylvester of the law firm Ciboney Chambers, and Anslem Clouden of Clouden and Associates.

According to information coming out of the hearing, Drug Enforcement Agents made a formal request to the Grenada government in December for the four suspects to be handed over to their jurisdiction for trial.

Sources told this newspaper that the locals, along with another person presently in US custody, were indicted by a Grand Jury on April 15, 2003 with conspiracy to distribute several quantities of Cocaine into the United States.

The Grenadians are reported to have fallen victims to a sting operation conducted by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in an undercover operation during the periods 2000-2003.

The source said that the DEA have linked the men to the importation of several quantities of 5 kilos of Cocaine on numerous occasions to the United States. The four suspects will return to Court on January 28.