Men freed of ‘coke’ charge

Christopher Prentice, 46, of Harris Street in Curepe and Richard Dickson, 42, of National Avenue in Mt Hope (formerly of Centenary Street in Pasea, Tunapuna) appeared yesterday before Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon in the Sixth Criminal Court where a jury took an hour and a half to reach a verdict.

According to the State, Prentice and Dickson were allegedly stopped by two police officers on November 3, 2003, in the vicinity of Mohammed Street, Tunapuna. The officers found Prentice and Dickson acting suspiciously and proceeded to search their vehicle.

PC Nigel De Silva and Cpl Audie Moona of the Tunapuna Police Station searched the vehicle and allegedly found a plastic bag containing the cocaine under the mat of the front passenger seat.

Moona, who laid the charge, said in his evidence that Dickson admitted to the cocaine being his. Moona said Dickson responded, “Officer, I could do with a bligh.

The thing is mine, let my partner go.”

However, it was discovered a few days after the arrest that the Nissan B-14 Sentra in which the cocaine was found, belonged to Nigel Samuel, who at the time was attached to the Port-of-Spain Traffic Branch. Samuel who testified on behalf of the State, said he loaned his car to Prentice, who had been his friend for the past 12 years.

Prentice was represented by Rangee Dolsingh SC, while Dickson was represented by attorney Ian Ibrahim. Attorneys Kathy Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Tricia Hudlin were State’s counsel.