GEORGETOWN Magistrate Faith McGusty yesterday remanded 41-year-old domestic worker Shancha Barker and her son Shibadan Holder, a 19-year-old miner of Lower Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, after they both appeared before her and pleaded not guilty to a joint charge that said that on Thursday, September 26, at Lower Kara Kara Mackenzie, Linden, they had in their possession 3110 grammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Gordon Gilhuys, representing the duo, told the court he was instructed that Barker is a mother of eight children, which includes the number two defendant, and they all reside at the same address in Mackenzie, Linden.

He explained that on the day in question Barker had just returned home when she heard a noise and saw a policeman who said he had found something in her yard.
The number two accused had just returned home also, and had met his mother washing clothes. After he proceeded to watch television, he heard a rumbling and was called out of the house, where he saw a policeman, who later arrested him and his mother.

Defence counsel made application for bail for both of his clients, stating that the illegal substance was not found in their house, but in a yard that is not fenced.

Police Corporal Seon Blackman, prosecuting, declared that the facts given by the defence lawyer were contrary to the prosecution’s facts. He said that on the day in question, at around 15:30 hrs, police acted on information and visited the home of the defendants.

Detective constable 20930 Thomas saw the duo in a chicken pen with a blue tarpaulin spread, on which were a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis sativa. The duo was told of the offence and cautioned, arrested and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station.

After questioning, he said, the number one defendant admitted that the illegal substance belonged to her husband.

Corporal Blackman successfully objected to the granting of bail to the duo on the ground that there was no special reason provided by the counsel to determine bail, since the police saw the two defendants attending to the illegal substance.

Defence attorney argued that special reason was provided, since the alleged cannabis was not found in their house, but instead in a yard that is not fenced.

Bail was nevertheless refused both defendants, and the case was set for recall on October 14 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.