Fishermen on cocaine trial

Cpl Jonathan Paul-Gunness, testifying in the San Fernando High Court, said he believed the three accused were “good fellas.”

Paul-Gunness was yesterday cross-examined in the trial of Ramesh “Poya” Soobnarine-singh, 37, his brother Parasram Manoo, 25, and neighbour Learie Lincoln Andrews aka “Boots”, 44, who are charged with possession of the cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

At the start of the trial on Monday, State attorney Narissa Ramsundar told Justice Anthony Carmona and a nine-member jury that on August 18, 2000, Paul-Gunness and a party of policemen went to Quarry Road in Morne Diablo.

The police carried out surveillance at the back of Soobnarinesingh’s home where Soobnarinesingh and Manoo were seen walking through a track. They stopped some 25 feet from the police party, Ramsundar said.

Ramsundar told the court Andrews joined the two brothers. The police party, she said, saw the three accused spread a piece of plastic on the ground.

They then removed ten black packages from a clump of grass. The State attorney said the police officers saw the accused unfold the packages and wrap them in plastic. At that point, she added, the officers made their arrest and seized the packages.

The State attorney told the jury that the State’s case depended on the evidence of two police officers. Under cross-examination from Soobnarinesingh’s attorney Prakash Ramadhar, Paul-Gunness denied that he alighted from the jeep and had told Soobnarinesingh: “Ah hear allyuh fellas find something in the water.”

The trial continues on tomorrow.