Couple charged with cannabis possession

Lawrence “Spanish” Gill, 52 of Paul’s Avenue is out on $2500 but his girlfriend was not so lucky.{{more}}

Last week Tuesday at the Serious Offences Court, Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman fined Shanda Roberts, 24, Shopkeeper of Paul’s Avenue $3000 for having 1325 grams of cannabis in her possession. Roberts has to pay the fine in full by September 21 or risk spending seven months in prison. She was also charged and fined $500 for cultivating 20 plants of indigenous cannabis.

Roberts was jointly charged with Gill, who pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was ordered to report to Central Police Station between 6-8 am on Mondays. The case was postponed to September 24, 2007.

The Rapid Response Unit was on patrol in the Paul’s Avenue area about 11:20 a.m. Monday 18, when they spotted a marijuana plant growing in Gill’s backyard. When the officers went to investigate, Gill saw the officers and uprooted the plants and ran. He was subsequently caught.

A total of 20 plants were found along with a black plastic bag at the back of the couple’s shop containing the 1325 grams of cannabis. A total of $1095 was forfeited from both defendants.

Roberts, who was in the shop at the time, admitted to the police that the drugs belonged to her. “Officer all ah dem is mine, anything you find is mines.” Gill denied ownership. They were both arrested and charged.