Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Lisa Hooper found guilty of cocaine possession
From the Courts
April 25, 2014

Lisa Hooper found guilty of cocaine possession

Jomo Thomas, lawyer for Lisa Hooper, says he will appeal the decision of magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, who on Wednesday, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, found Hooper guilty on three cocaine related charges.{{more}}

Hooper, 23, of Campden was fined $27,000 for possession of 1,235 grammes of cocaine. She was ordered to pay $13,500 forthwith or spend two years in jail.

Up to press time, the forthwith fine had not been paid.

Hooper has until June 23, 2014 to pay the remainder. In default, she will spend two years in jail.

On the charges of conspiracy to export and drug trafficking, Hooper was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence on each charge.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT following the decision, Thomas expressed disappointment in the judgement handed down by the court.

“I really thought we had done sufficiently, particularly where we spoke to the law of possession, export and trafficking. We were very, very disappointed with the decision of the court and I can tell you we will appeal,” Thomas told SEARCHLIGHT.

Thomas also noted that he does not think that anyone should be made to pay a fine that amounts to a jail term.

“If you tell somebody to pay the money forthwith and here you have this l Continued from Page 6

young lady’s family scrambling to pay the money tomorrow, you are essentially sentencing the person to jail and the Court of Appeal has pronounced clearly on that. You just can’t give a fine that amounts to a jail term, because the person might not be able to meet the amount of money at that time,” Thomas stated.

In handing down her decision, the magistrate said she looked at a number of factors and considered each charge individually in the case before coming to her decision.

In his mitigation, Thomas said Hooper and Smith were “small cubs” in a sophisticated chain that packaged certain high quality contraband.

He further added that there was no evidence that drug was produced in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“One of the unfortunate things in this case is that our national security network did not work to its fullest, in the sense that the people who would benefit most are not the ones before the court today,” Thomas further mitigated.

Thomas said his client has endured a tremendous amount of shame and said that has been punishment itself.

Thomas asked that a fine be imposed on Hooper, instead of confining her.

“The fine should be one that sends a message to other persons that they can’t take the law lightly and we ask the fine act as a deterrent,” Thomas said.

He also asked that Hooper be given six to nine months to make good on the payment of the fine.

The incidents occurred between July 1 and 24, 2013, at the E.T. Joshua Airport.

Her former co-accused, Nathan Smith of Kent, England, who had earlier pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a two-year prison sentence, told the court that it was Hooper who had brought him a can each of Presidente beer, Vitamalt, and Hairoun beer, which police later discovered were filled with liquid cocaine, following a search of Smith’s luggage at the E.T. Joshua Airport on July 24, 2013.

Hooper denied ever supplying Smith with the cans.

Senior prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Adolphus Delpeche led the case for the prosecution.(KW)

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Free movement of  people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Front Page
    Free movement of people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Many Vincentians and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are welcoming the decision by four CARICOM governments to institute the free moveme...
    ‘Unprincipled  non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Front Page
    ‘Unprincipled non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly a few days ago that entities in the international sphere are seeking...
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50  businesses in East Kingstown
    Front Page
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50 businesses in East Kingstown
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), moved its campaign to Sion Hill last Saturday, September, 27,2025 as it seeks to retain its hold on the Eas...
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Front Page
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves renewed his call at the United Nations for the inclusion of Taiwan in the organisation’s specialised agencies. Deli...
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Front Page
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    More than EC$700,000 in prize money was handed out to the 2025 VincyMas winners, on Sunday night, September, 28,2025, at Carnival City, Victoria Park....
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Press Release
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    As the Atlantic Hurricane season reaches its peak, more than 47 disaster management professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond have joined for...
    News
    Rose Place woman  remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    From the Courts, News
    Rose Place woman remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A woman who resides at Rose Place was remanded after threatening to “blow out” a farmer’s head. Rasharma Pollard appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’...
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    From the Courts, News
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A father’s request was granted when his son, who had pointed a gun at him, was imprisoned. Simon Simmons appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court ...
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    News
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and even eliminated, provided that countries strengthen their vaccination, screening, ...
    Prayer sustains woman  caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    News
    Prayer sustains woman caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The world recognized Alzheimer’s Day on September, 21, 2025, but for the Muhammad family, of Largo Height, Alzheimer’s is an everyday reality that is ...
    Librarian and Poet uses  spoken-word as a relief Valve
    News
    Librarian and Poet uses spoken-word as a relief Valve
    Webmaster 
    September 26, 2025
    Often times, people’s struggles, insecurities, physical issues and inner pain are masked by an exterior that looks strong, poised and well put togethe...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok