Categorized | National News

Pilot Appeal Adjourned To Next Month

A pilot will have to remain in prison a few more weeks before having his appeal heard by the appellate court.

Forty-eight-year-old Patrick Pyfrom, along with another man, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of importation of dangerous drugs, conspiracy to import dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and conspiracy to possess dangerous with intent to supply.

It is alleged that they committed these crimes on January 16, 2011, after flying the drugs from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

On the day in question, both men were arrested by police at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) after disembarking from a private plane.

The drugs, weighing 41 pounds and valued $256,000, was found in a suitcase that was being carried off the plane.

In the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, attorney Murrio Ducille, who represents Pyfrom, said there were still no transcripts available and no ruling from the magistrate’s court.

President of the Court of Appeal Anita Allen told Mr. Ducille that the panel, made up of herself and Justices Stanley John and Neville Adderley that they would love to see the ruling.

Mr. Ducille then told the panel that something was “amiss” and that in that particular magistrate’s court you have to go through the magistrate in order to get transcripts.

He was referring to Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethel.

President Allen said the magistrate should not interfere with transcripts and that it raises suspicion.

She added that rules are in place governing transcripts and even if she has to look at them she should do it expeditiously.

Mr. Ducille however said she should not look at them at all.

The attorney then raised that on the charge of possession of dangerous drugs, there has to be actual or constructive possession and that there is no evidence of that but prosecutor Anthony Delaney disagreed noting there was an aircraft under surveillance and that both men tried to avoid customs.

Mr. Ducille said what Delaney had to say was “grossly erroneous.”

President Allen then told both men that they will have to look at all the evidence rather than having them argue at that time.

Mr. Ducille then told the panel that he was also seeking bail for his client pending the appeal but the panel refused.

The matter was adjourned to June 24 at 10:00 a.m.

Written by Jones Bahamas

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