Accused’s death kills coke matter

Before his death on July 28, Hope, 27, of Betty Street, Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, had three charges for cocaine possession, cocaine trafficking and resisting arrest, pending in court.

Hope was charged for those offences in 2002. He was expected to re-appear in court yesterday but on July 28, hours after his arrest, he collapsed in a cell at the San Fernando Police Station. Hope was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital. An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre revealed that he died from cocaine ingestion. Yesterday, when Magistrate Deonarinesingh called Hope’s name in the Second Court, police prosecutor, Sgt Wendell Fernando, informed the magistrate that Hope had died.

Deonarinesingh told the prosecutor to provide the court with a death certificate so the matter can be “dealt with properly.”

The case was adjourned to September 5.