…four had died after ingesting liquefied cocaine in SSS Tonic

A THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD miner accused of possession of liquefied cocaine in SSS Tonic was yesterday refused bail on a drug trafficking charge. Dean Layne, of HH Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, made his appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The unrepresented man will return to Court on August 4.
The police allege that on Friday, May 2, at Cocorite Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 252 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant said on the day in question, around 21:00hrs, the defendant went to the home of Candacy McGarrell’s niece, who was visiting from the United States, to take some bottles of SSS Tonic for his brother, who was also in United States.
However, the woman went back without taking the tonic, and five occupants of the home ingested the substance, four of whom later died at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Post-mortem examinations revealed that the persons died from consuming the tonic which was liquefied with cocaine.
The prosecutor successfully objected to bail on the grounds of the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence.
Those who died were Alex Blair, 42, his wife Simone Pryce, 36, their nine-year-old son, Jahaquel Blair, and Natasha George, 36. The only survivor was 12-year-old Jamal Waterman.
According to reports, Blair and his wife got up that day and they decided to drink the SSS Tonic and to they gave some to their children, Jacquiel and Jamal.
Within a few minutes of taking the tonic, the children reportedly started to feel upset and vomited. The Blair family called their neighbour and best friend, Natasha George, to taste the tonic and George complied, reporting afterwards that the tonic was tasting funny.