Clarity provided on sine die status of man’s 2007 cocaine case

THE CASE against Mickey Miller, who is currently before the court on cocaine charges stemming back to 2007 when he was first arrested, has been set for mention on April 18 for a plea and case management hearing to take place.

Miller, who is charged in relation to three pounds and 1.19 ounces of cocaine, had his bail extended when he appeared in the St James Parish Court yesterday, after clarification was provided to indicate that trial proceedings had not previously begun in his case.

That clarification was previously ordered when Miller last appeared in court on March 26, after his attorney Charles Sinclair voiced concern over notes he had received regarding his client’s previous court appearances, where Miller’s case was adjourned sine die, or without a future resumption date in sight, despite the matter having apparently been tried.

“The Crown was tasked to make some checks with the court records as to whether trial had commenced in this matter. Based on the records, no trial had commenced in this matter,” the clerk of the court told presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce yesterday.

“On September 4, 2007, the matter was on the trial list; on September 26, 2007, bail was extended to Ishell Mhlophe, the co-accused with Miller; on September 26, 2007, I am seeing where trial was set for October 30. I am seeing a warrant for Mhlophe, and then trial for October 30, 2007, plus a bail offer to Miller of $500,000 with one to two sureties, and he was to surrender travel documents and a stop order made,” the clerk explained.

“On October 30, trial was slated for November 15, 2007, and bail extended for Miller. For Mhlophe, a warrant was ordered. On November 15, 2007, I am seeing for Mhlophe that a warrant was already ordered, and the matter adjourned sine die in respect of Miller, and his travel documents were ordered to be released.”

The warrant was previously issued for Mhlophe when she failed to return to court in 2007 after having been granted bail. It is understood that the warrant is still in effect, as per the update given to the court on March 26 this year.

In the meantime, the court was advised that the prosecution intends to set a trial date in relation to Miller’s case.

Meanwhile, Sinclair lamented the lack of detail on why Miller’s case was adjourned sine die without adequate explanation being recorded, while stating his intention to make a presentation in relation to his client’s case when the matter returns on the next court date of April 18.

“It would have been interesting to know the thought process of the persons who had conduct of the matter, and I suspect that it could be, based on what was disclosed, that they can’t establish anything without the other person in conspiracy,” Sinclair told the court, referring to the absence of Mhlophe.

The allegations are that, on May 18, 2007, Miller was taken into custody along with Mhlophe, when both were checking in at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James.

According to reports, Mhlophe was preparing to board a flight to London, England, when her suitcase was searched and two plastic bottles were found inside it.The bottles were found to contain a substance which tested positive for cocaine.

Under questioning from the on-duty officer, Mhlophe reportedly pointed out Miller, who was also in the boarding line for the London flight, as the one who gave her the substance. Under caution, Miller allegedly addressed Mhlophe and said, “You chat too much. If you did keep your mouth, you and your pickney dem woulda all right.”

Following this, both were arrested and charged.