$300,000 bail too steep for Cocorite trio

THE COCORITE trio, held on Friday with two cannisters of chemicals, a firearm and ammunition, were yesterday granted $100,000 bail each to cover all three charges. Despite being granted bail, the trio was taken away to remand prison since none of them were able to secure bail. The trio, David Philbert, Michelle Borell and Ecool Nelson appeared before City Magistrate Avason Quinlan in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Magistrates’ Court. The matter was adjourned to today. Philbert, Nelson and Borell all stood stone-faced as the Magistrate read the indictable charges  laid against them by PC Joel Sifontes, who was absent from court.

The charges read that on Friday April 30, at Harding Place in Cocorite, Philbert, Nelson and Borell were in possession of a Cobra Mac 12 firearm and 30 rounds of ammunition. In addition, the trio were charged for being in possession of two cannisters of chemicals. After the charges were read to the accused,  Osbourne Charles SC, appearing for Philbert, 26, a jeweller by trade, told the court that he wanted to go on record as saying that he believed his client was being tried by the media. Police Prosecutor Sgt Boxhill said when she contacted the station she was told that Sifontes had gone to collect the tracing, but Charles pointed out that this was unacceptable because the police were now equipped with computers and other devices that should make tracing a five minute process.

Defence attorney Patrick Godson-Phillip echoed the sentiments expressed by Charles. In addition, he noted that Nelson and Borell were husband and wife, and were employed with the same company. He is a labourer, while she worked as a secretary. In response, Quinlan noted that she was always concerned when accused persons are brought before the court and the complainants are not there. The matter was stood down for a short time, but when it was recalled Sifontes informed the court that he had neither the tracing nor the exhibits to place before the court. He explained that the property keeper at the station had to attend the Port-of-Spain High Court yesterday, and had not returned to hand over the items to him. The matter was adjourned to today.