A SIXTY-nine-year-old woman and her 40-year-old son were yesterday brought before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer drug trafficking charges. Mineliva Devonshire and Telbert Devonshire were both charged on Tuesday with having 115 grammes of marijuana at their Lot 13 Hibiscus Housing Scheme, Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara home for the purpose of trafficking.
Mineliva pleaded not guilty to the charge and her son also denied the charge against him.
However, Telbert was slapped with a second charge but he pleaded guilty. Particulars of that offence stated that on the same day at Hibiscus Housing Scheme, Blankenburg, he had in his possession 524 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that both mother and son occupied the same home. On the day in question at 15:30 hrs ranks from the narcotics branch, acting on information, went to the home of both defendants. Upon seeing the police the number one defendant, Telbert, jumped out a window and ran to the back of the yard and made his way over a fence.
He was seen throwing a black plastic bag over the fence and ranks gave chase and apprehend him on a dam next to a trench, where a quantity of the illegal drug was found.
Subsequently, the police went into the house where they saw the number two defendant, Mineliva, with a black plastic bag in her hand trying to stash it in her mattress.
The court heard that Mineliva was found in the same room from which Telbert had jumped through the window. A further search was conducted and 101 small packets containing the prohibited drugs were found. The duo were told of the offence and cautioned.
Mangru said that Telbert, under caution, accepted ownership of the drug and admitted that he was the one selling marijuana, not his mother. Meanwhile, Mineliva remained silent and further investigations were carried out before they were charged.
Representing the mother and son was attorney-at-law, Mr. Charles Ramson, Jnr. In mitigation, he told the court that Telbert has no pending matter and did not waste the court’s time.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate if he had anything to say, Telbert responded, “nothing ma’am.”
Consequently, Telbert was sentenced to three years imprisonment, along with a $30,000 fine on each charge, which will run concurrently.
Consequently, the charge against his mother was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Prosecutor Mangru told the court that based on instructions the prosecutor will not be giving any evidence against Mineliva.