NOT GUILTY, CARTER SAYS
Rider pleads on pot charge
Roughriders star receiver SASKATOON Duron Carter has pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana, a charge laid earlier this year after he was arrested at the Saskatoon airport.
Carter, 27, was not present in Saskatoon provincial court on Wednesday. His lawyer, Reginabased Louis Mercier, appeared by telephone and entered the plea on his behalf.
Reached by phone after the brief appearance, Mercier said Carter decided to plead not guilty on the grounds of a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms application.
Carter was “prejudiced” after an airport video of his Feb. 1 arrest was apparently deleted or erased and, as a result, not provided in the Crown’s disclosure, Mercier said.
Saskatoon Airport Authority vice-president Andrew Leeming said Wednesday that airport video recordings are stored for 30 days, after which they are recorded over, unless a request for footage is made.
The request for footage of Carter’s arrest was not made until June 15, Leeming said.
“You have to let things go. As time goes on, my lawyer and I thought this was the best-case scenario for me,” Carter told the Regina Leader-Post during the Roughriders’ practice Wednesday.
“It would be nice (to get the charges resolved). My lawyer is talking to the Crown and we’re trying to get everything situated. I fully trust the law and how it goes about.”
The receiver and defensive back was arrested after Canada Border
Itwouldbe nice (to get the charges resolved). My lawyer is talking to the Crown and we’re trying to get everything situated. I fully trustthelaw and how it goes about.
Services agents discovered pot in a traveller’s bags. Carter was subsequently charged with possession of marijuana.
“I know I know. Life,” the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. resident — who played for the Montreal Alouettes before joining the Riders — tweeted after the arrest. The tweet was accompanied with a “facepalm” emoji.
Wednesday marked Carter’s fourth appearance on the charge after three previous adjournments. His next court date is scheduled for July 5.
Carter was named the Roughriders’ most outstanding player last year, as well as a West Division and Canadian Football League all-star, after leading the team in receiving yards.
Carter last week received an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to a single marijuana possession charge laid on Nov. 25, 2017, after he was stopped by police at the Winnipeg airport.
Speaking to the Regina LeaderPost earlier this month, Carter said he did not view the charges against him as a distraction: “I don’t particularly think about it that much, to tell you the truth.” With Postmedia News files from Murray McCormick amacpherson@postmedia.com twitter.com/macphersona