Almost 15 years after being charged with possession of over 65 kilogrammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and the possession of a gun and ammunition, a 41-year-old woman has been convicted on all charges.
In less that 30 minutes, a jury in the San Fernando Third Criminal Court found Joeann Walters guilty on the three charges.
Walters, who had been out on bail, was remanded into custody to await sentencing. She was arrested on December 16, 2003 in Couva. The State’s only witness, Insp Sean Sookram, testified that based on information received he stopped a maroon Mitsubishi Lancer around 5 am at Carli Bay Road.
Walters was the driver and there were two male passengers. When the officer searched Walters he found a revolver with six rounds of ammunition stuck in her waist. He also found six feed bags, containing 18 packages of marijuana, in the car — two bags in the back seat and four in the trunk. However, Walters testified that the police fabricated the case against her.
She said she was the only occupant in the car and the police did not find any gun or ammunition or drugs in the car. She was represented by attorney Criston J Williams while State attorney Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal prosecuted the matter.
Justice Maria Wilson remanded Walters into custody and adjourned the matter to next Wednesday for the mitigation plea.