A 70-year-old man who testified that he was slapped, threatened and set up by police who charged him with having more than 14 kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, was last week found not guilty by a nine-member jury.

 

 

 

The jury in the Third Assize Court, San Fernando took less than one hour before delivering the not guilty verdicts in favour of Peter Telesford and his 44-year-old co-accused Felix Montique.

Tears flowed from family members as Justice Larry Lalla told the men they could go home .

On leaving the court, Telesford, a pensioner of Charuma Village, Biche, expressed relief at the outcome of the case. He was represented by attorney-at-law Gillian Lucky.

"The police lie on me," Telesford said.

"Is eight to nine years they have me suffering. It was not fair but I thank God justice has prevailed."

Montique, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Prakash Ramadhar and Jagdeo Singh, was not available for comment.

The State's case, as led by attorneys Aden Stroude and Jennifer Martin, was that Telesford and Montique, also of Biche, were arrested during a marijuana eradication expedition in the Biche forest at Charuma Village on March 19, 1998 by officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotic Unit.

The court was told that Telesford and Montique were seen placing plant material into a black plastic bag.

Cpl Michael Peters said the two men were kept under observation for several minutes before the police team moved in on them. He said the men and the marijuana were airlifted out of the forest by a helicopter which was contracted by the Ministry of National Security.

While giving evidence last week, Telesford said he was in his cocoa garden when a group of policemen armed with guns accosted him.

He said he was taken to a camp where he met Montique-a stranger.

Telesford told the court that he also saw fellow villagers Brian Jones and Sylvester Francis and they (Jones and Francis) were arguing over the ownership of the marijuana.

He said he was slapped across the face by one of the policemen and ordered, along with Montique and Francis, to pack the marijuana into bags.

 

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