Venezuelan gets re-trial

A Venezuelan convicted and sentenced to 12 years hard labour for trafficking in cocaine was ordered a re-trial yesterday by the Court of Appeal.

The Court, comprising Justice Lionel Jones (President), Justice Anthony Lucky and Justice Stanley John, expressed concern about the instructions given by accused  Oswaldo Carillo to his defence attorney, Theodore Guerra SC. At the Court of Appeal hearing, Carillo made certain allegations through his attorney that his instructions were not followed at his trial. The Court noted that in the absence of written instructions, it could not say what really transpired, and urged attorneys to ensure that instructions from clients are written, signed and kept. In this case, there was allegedly non-written instructions. Carillo, of Sucre Sate, Venezuela, was found guilty of trafficking in cocaine and was sentenced by Justice Paula Mae Weekes in November, 2001. Arguing the case for the State was prosecutor Wayne Rajbansee while Carillo was represented by Ian Stuart Brook.