Extradition case adjourned to Aug 27

Attorney Pamela Elder, who is representing Lance Small in his extradition matter, yesterday continued her no-case submission. The matter is being heard before magistrate Joanne Connor in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ First Court. Small was indicted by the United States Grand Jury on May 23 2002, on charges of conspiracy to possess firearms, contrary to the laws of the United States. The charges relate to an alleged attempt in May 2001, to import 60 AK-47 rifles and ten Mac-10 machine guns with silencers into Trinidad.

During Elder’s submission yesterday, the attorney said most of the evidence and affidavits signed by several of the witnesses lacked mens rea for conspiracy and, as a result, Small could not be considered a co-conspirator. Elder also submitted that it was up to magistrate Connor to decide whether the evidence is sufficient to justify her client being committed to stand trial for the charges facing him. The matter was adjourned to August 27.