Man with 4 names goes on trial

He is charged jointly with Lawrence Blake with trafficking four kilos of cocaine at Cocorite on October 20, 2004. They are before Justice Devan Rampersad and a nine-member jury in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. Special prosecutor Dana Seetahal SC is leading the State’s case with State attorneys Cheron Raphael and Shoba Jamunar, while Evans Welch and Wayne Sturge are representing the two accused.

In outlining her case to the jury yesterday, Seetahal said the State intends to call four police officers. She said that on October 6, 2004, PC Brian Daniel had a conversation with Asst Supt Chandraband Maharaj at the offices of the Firearms Interdiction Unit.

On October 20, 2004, Daniel and Maharaj spoke again. Daniel and PC Simon left in a police vehicle for St James. At the gas station in St James, they switched cars. At about 2 pm, Daniel and Simon pulled into the Bayside Towers compound.

Forty-five minutes later, the officers spotted vehicle PBO 7761 entering the compound. Perpignac and Blake were in the vehicle. The officers approached and saw the accused looking into an orange-coloured bag. They shouted “police.”

Daniel opened the front passenger door and Perpignac lunged at him and a struggle ensued. Simon came to Daniel’s assistance and subdued Perpignac.

Blake who was in the car drove off and collided with a post on the compound. He then reversed and attempted to leave the area when he was blocked by another vehicle driven by Maharaj.

Blake and Perpignac were arrested. The police checked the orange bag and found a quantity of cocaine along with $5,446 in United States and TT currency. Daniel spoke to both men, told them of his observation and arrested them.

Later that night at the Firearms Interdiction Unit offices, the cocaine was weighed and it amounted to four kilos. Perpignac and Blake were later charged with the offences.

Hearing resumes this morning.