hi guys
you may have read my post dated feb 06. if not please read first…
now i can update anyone interested with this case.
The case went to court in Canterbury last Tuesday 4April 06. With the end to this fiasco in sight we were more than happy to get it all over with finally after 10 months of waiting.
on tuesday the prosecution put their case forward with little / no evidence (i dont actually see how the cps has let it go to court) most of what the prosecution put forward just seemed to strengthen the case that the driver knew nothing of his surprise cargo… at the end of court on Tues our barrister confirmed this and said we had no problems …
However on the Wednesday we entered court to start the defence hearing but before the judge allowed the jury into the court room he Announced that it had been brought to his attention that someone had been speaking to the jury after court on the Tuesday in the jurors canteen…?
Apparently 1 girl from our jury had come forward and told the court usher that she and others had been approached in the canteen by a man who asked if they were on the case of the truck driver with the drugs…they replied yes ! (i know they are not surposed to speak of the case to anyone !!) The man then saw fit to inform them that “the driver is well known in the underworld and is a big drug dealer” (REALLY WOULD A "BIG " DEALER BE DRIVING A TRUCK?) the last and only time the driver has had any contact with the law he got his ear clipped by the village bobby for pinching a mars bar when he was 11… he is now 51 not a bad record eh…
however this having been said the judge saw no alternative but to sack the jury and adjourn the case for another 2 weeks when a new jury will be sworn and we can start again…
i think this is a poor attempt by customs to try and taint the minds of the jury and get the conviction of an innocent man…
As our barrister said if the girl had not come forward with this information anything could have happened. we are lucky she had the balls to come forward as at least 4 other jurors didn’t until questioned…
many people have said to “go to the newspapers with our story” but our barrister says if we do their wont be a court in the country that can hear the case…maybe after the case you will read it in the papers but rest assured YOU WILL READ IT HERE FIRST…
many thanks for the help and support you have given and i will update with outcome hopfully in 2 weeks…
sorry to here that the case has been adjoured
hope it goes better next time
keep us updated many thanks
eddy:
she and others had been approached in the canteen by a man who asked if they were on the case of the truck driver with the drugs…The man then saw fit to inform them that “the driver is well known in the underworld and is a big drug dealer”
eddy:
i think this is a poor attempt by customs to try and taint the minds of the jury and get the conviction of an innocent man…
Unfortunately, some things don’t suprise me. 
Good luck next time around.
This is not unusual in drug related cases . I have been in courts throught the country and this sort of goings on often happens when unscrupulous drug barons and others think the defendant might get cleared of all charges. I do hope at the next trial sence will prevail and the correct outcome of Not Guilty will be given.
Danneke
Good luck with the next trial m8, my thoughts are with you both.
all i am going to say is if someone was REALLY trafficing drugs and they were transporting that quantity, surely the drug baron would have had a specially fitted compartment consealed in the roof of the truck or something a bit more solid than on the fuel tank where there is a danger of losing so much valuble cargo?
just my thoughts m8.