Lance Small extradition hearing — August 20

No evidence was taken yesterday when wanted fugitive Lance Small appeared in court for his extradition hearing. Magistrate Joanne Connor who is hearing the extradition case was absent as she now sits in another jurisdiction. Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet, presiding in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrates’ Court, called the matter. Owen Hinds Jr informed the court that Small’s attorney Pamela Elder SC was out of the country and due to return next Tuesday. Both sides agreed that the matter be postponed to August 20. Douglas Mendes SC, Dana Seetahal and David West are appearing for the United States government.

Small, 69, also known as Olive Enyahooma-El, lost a constitutional motion on July 28 in which he was contending that the 2004 amendment to the Extradition Act infringed his constitutional rights and was also discriminatory against him. 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.