Carenage man freed of ‘coke’ charge

HIGH COURT Judge Paula-Mae Weekes yesterday dismissed a drug trafficking charge against a Carenage man after it was found that the State could not prove that he was in actual possession of the drug. David Coltes, 30, of Western Main Road, Carenage appeared before Weekes on the charge of possession of 3.079 kgs of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The drugs were found between the front passenger and driver seat of a car in which he was a front seat passenger. Coltes, who is employed as an offshore oil rig worker and Venezuelan Jose Cely were arrested and charged for the offence. However, Cely reportedly absconded and went back to Venezuela.

When the matter came before the court yesterday, Coltes’ attorney Ian Brooks made a no case submission to the court and explained that the State had not presented any evidence to the court to prove that his client was in actual possession of the drugs found in the vehicle. Brooks cited several authorities to support his case that his client could not be made accountable for the drugs found in the vehicle. The judge ruled in favour of the submission and held that neither actual nor constructive possession was proven by the State.