Cocaine Bust Matter Pushed To 2017

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BVI Platinum News

(PLTM) - The case involving the 2015 bust where David Straker, Donald George, Anderson Flax and Lyndon Chiverton were arrested and charged for the possession of 86.30 Kilograms of cocaine, has been rescheduled to March 14-20, 2017, to accommodate officers from the USVI, who will stand as the prime witnesses in the matter.

The men made an appearance at the Magistrate’s Court earlier today, November 14.

This lengthy adjournment came as a result of Straker, George and Chiverton’s defense attorney, Mr. Marlon Gordon challenging the crown’s application, which requested the court’s permission for the matter to proceed with the witnesses making their contributions via video conferencing.

As highlighted by the crown’s representative Garcia Kelly, the officers, four in total, who are all employed in the United States, noted that it may not be practical for them to attend physically due to other obligations.

However, Gordon informed the court that he would prefer the witnesses be present, adding that if it should be done any differently, it may be prejudice, noting that he would not be able to see their full mannerisms.

Gordon highlighted that the crown’s excuse of the men being outside the jurisdiction is not enough. He said that cost should have been considered. “For them to travel from St. Thomas to the BVI on a boat, it's only 30 to 45 minutes.”

It was on this note the matter was adjourned, giving the crown extra time to explore their options of having the witnesses physically present.

According to the court records, in July 2015 in waters off the coast of Virgin Gorda, USVI and local enforcement agencies took two vessels into custody, namely Big Ting and Avanti, which brought about the find and seizure of the illegal substance.

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