[www.inewsguyana.com] – The 34 – year -old Miner charged with drug trafficking in relation to the cocaine-laced SSS tonic which claimed the life of four persons last year was set free by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, January 19.
Deon Layne, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence was found not guilty of the charge which alleged that on May 02, 2014 at Cookrite Street, East La Penitence he had 252 grammes of cocaine for trafficking purposes.
He appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on July 23, 2014 and pleaded not guilty but the Court had kept him remanded ever since. The matter was subsequently transferred to Magistrate Latchman for trial.
Magistrate Latchman informed Layne that there was not sufficient evidence to convict him on the drug trafficking charge.
During his first appearance Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant said on the day in question at around 21:00 hrs the defendant went to the home of Candacy McGarrell’s niece who was visiting from the United States, to take some SSS tonics for his child mother in the United States.
The woman left Guyana without the tonic and five occupants of the home ingested the substance. Four later died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Post Mortem Examination revealed that the persons died from consuming the tonic which contained liquefied cocaine.
Those who died were six-year-old Jahaquel Blair; his parents 42-year-old Alex Blair and Simone Pryce; and a neighbor 36-year-old Natasha George.
Last September, 12-year-old Jamaal Watterman, the only survivor testified. He said he was at home, in his bedroom, with his stepfather and younger brother when Layne came to the house.
Watterman said at the time his mother was at Church and when she returned she asked him to pass the plastic bag in the bedroom that had the tonic. She reportedly broke the seal and poured some of the tonic into a snap glass and everyone consumed small portions.
He explained after he drank the tonic he felt numb and upset and eventually vomited. He said everything was normal and they were watching television in the living room, during which time everyone drank juice.
After a while he reportedly noticed his small brother swaying from side to side as if he would fall. Subsequently, his stepfather ran out of the house and screamed for help.
After, his uncle came and along with his stepfather placed his brother in the vehicle and took them to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The child spent about two weeks in the Hospital and he was informed that his mother, step-father, brother and neighbour died.
As the Magistrate ruled, she said that she believed that Layne took the Bottle and handed it to McGarrell but noted that there was not enough evidence for her to conclude that he knew that the cocaine was in the bottle of SSS tonic, especially since it was sealed.
The Court noted that no evidence was brought by the Prosecution to show that Layne knew when, where or how the cocaine got there. She emphasised that the bottle was sealed when delivered and added that there was no proof that Layne put the cocaine in the bottle or arranged for it to be placed there.
Afterwards, Layne told Reporters that he did not take a lawyer and opted to fight the case himself because he knew he was innocent of the charge.
