Teen Jailed For Storing Gang's Gun

A teenage student arrested during a police raid for storing a handgun and hundreds of bullets for a North London gang has been jailed for five years.

Forensics student Mary Boateng, 19, of Northumberland Park, Tottenham hid the Derringer-type pistol (pictured) in a rucksack and 300 bullets – 149 of which matched the firearm – in a bag in her kitchen.

Police from the Serious and Organised Crime Command executed a search warrant after an intelligence-led operation.

Before the search she confessed to detectives knew there was "something bad" in the rucksack.

The live ammo included magnum bullets and .22 short, .22 rifle, .32, .38 and 9mm caliber rounds.

DNA-testing by the Forensic Science Service matched a hair found caught in a knot of the plastic bag containing the ammunition with Boateng.

Boateng pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to possession of a prohibited firearm, prohibited ammunition – three ‘dumb dumb’ bullets - and a further charge of unlawful possession of the remaining bullets.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer, from the Central Task Force, said: “Whether or not Boateng knew the exact contents of the bag in her home, she, in her own words, knew it contained ‘something bad’.

“We have removed a gun and a large quantity of ammunition from the streets of London, which would no doubt have caused injury or death.

“The Met Police Service has said loud and clear that people who store guns for others will face time in jail.”

Shoebridge 'On His Toes'

A notorious Torquay troublemaker is now on the run from police again after jumping bail when failing to turn up for sentencing on burglary and criminal damage charges.

Graham Shoebridge, 37, (pictured) formerly of Old Torwood Road was recently made subject to a court-imposed restraining order after making a series of nuisance phone calls to the Key West Hotel, Meadfoot Sea Road, Torquay.

He received seventy days imprisonment in June for calling the hotel fifty times in just three days and has a history of similar offences, including restraining orders he did not obey.

Shoebridge, now of Sumatra Road, Camden, North London failed to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court after being committed there for sentencing by Highbury Corner Magistrartes’ Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Philip Jones’s application for a warrant without bail was immediately granted by Recorder Miss D Champion who announced: “Clearly he is not here.”

Shoebridge’s lawyer Miss Jenny McVeigh told the court: “I spoke to him yesterday and told him to be here so we could discuss the pre-sentence report.”

He previously jumped bail in Torquay when convicted of harassment after throwing a pizza box into a delivery woman’s face and hurling a torrent of abuse.

“His friend is here who spoke to Mr. Shoebridge on the phone and he made it clear he was not coming. I do not know what the reason is,” added the lawyer.

Later, a rambling fax sent by Shoebridge explaining his non-attendance arrived, but was intercepted by his lawyer who did not want Recorder Champion to read it.

£20,000 Reward For Year-Old Shooting

A £20,000 reward is now being offered by police for help in solving the execution-style shooting of a 24 year-old man in South-East London a year ago.

Nathan Williams (pictured) was shot several times in the early hours of July 28, last year in Ludwick Mews, New Cross.

Police were called to reports of shots fired at 1:30am and Mr. Williams, from Kennington, was found with serious injuries in a VW Golf and rushed to Kings College Hospital, where he died the same night.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime – believe four men were involved in the shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Allison said: “It's now a year on from Nathan's murder and we believe that the local community hold the answers as to who did this.

“This was a brutal execution of a young man and those who did this should not be tolerated by the community - if you have information I would urge you to come forward and work with police, who can protect your identity.

“Nathan's family deserve justice for their loss and the community deserve to live without fear of those who commit these terrible crimes.”

Polish Knees-Up Ends In Brutal Fatal Beating

Four Polish thugs have been caged for killing a fellow-countryman in a vicious group attack after the victim objected to two of them using hard drugs during a drinking-session in a North London squat.

The victim, 46 year-old Wieslaw Czyrak of Newlyn Road, Tottenham suffered a heart attack as a result of the beating and was left behind Aldi’s, Tottenham High Road, on June 17, last year.

Marek Rutkowski, 27, of Vicarage Road, Tottenham (pic.top) received 10 years.

Jurand Glowacki, 27, of Pembury Road, Tottenham (pic.2^nd top) received 10 years.

Marian Glowacki, 31, of Hertford Road, Enfield (pic.3^rd top) received 10 years.

Krystian Majewski, 21, of Leaside Road, Clapton (pic.bottom) received nine years.

All four were convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nash of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “Wieslaw Czyrak was subjected to an act of mindless violence which led to his fatal heart attack.

“This case is another illustration of pack mentality where despite it being unclear who delivered the fatal blow, the four involved, who have shown no remorse, are guilty and will now spend time behind bars.

Mr. Czyrak, who had been in the UK for several years, lived in the local area and worked casually.

On the night of his death he visited a squat in Tottenham High Road to drink with pals when Rutkowski and Majewski arrived and began preparing drugs.

Mr.Czyrak objected and after a brief argument the defendants returned with the Glowacki’s and the group attacked him with a length of wood and repeatedly punched and kicked his head and body.

Three Caged For Human-Torch Death Bid

Three “sadistic bullies” who tried to burn an acquaintance to death after beating and dousing him with lighter fluid in an East End park have all been jailed for life.

Rizwan Ahmed, 25, (pic.top) suffered 44% burns to his legs, abdomen, arms and hands in Mile End Park in the early hours of November 2, last year – later developing septicemia and pneumonia.

The trio are: Jermaine Joseph, 23, of Ida Street, Poplar (pic.2^nd top); Shane Dedman, 21, of Pennyfields, Poplar (pic.3^rd top) and Kieren Bruff, 22, of Merchant Street, Bow (pic.bottom).

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Luke Marks of Tower Hamlets CID said: “This was a callous, violent and pre-mediated attack on Rizwan Ahmed.

“The reason for the attack remains unknown. Only those found guilty truly know why they chose to beat Mr Ahmed to the point of unconsciousness, before pouring accelerant over him and setting him alight.

“Mr. Ahmed received 44 per cent burns to his body and it was only the specialist care provided by the staff at Royal London Hospital and the Specialist Burns Unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford that saved his life.

“Mr. Ahmed is a quiet, unassuming man who appears to have been targeted for no better reason than some extreme form of sadistic bullying.

“Mr. Ahmed is now trying to rebuild his life, however the physical and psychological injuries he sustained will remain with him forever.”

The victim, who knew Joseph and Dedman, was beaten to the point of unconsciousness and left lying on the ground.

The defendants ran away, but returned moments later to set Mr. Ahmed alight, having doused him with two bottles of lighter fluid- stolen by Joseph from a petrol station earlier.

Despite his injuries, Mr. Ahmed managed to put out the flames and was spotted by members of the public staggering near Burdett Road and police were called.

Each defendant was ordered to serve a fifteen-year minimum by an Old Bailey judge before being considered for parole.

Caribbean Cafe Boss Jailed After Drugs Raid

The boss of a notorious Caribbean café – arrested again after a another police raid, which caught over a dozen cannabis-smoking customers – has been jailed for fifty-one weeks.

Jamaican-born Anthony Lambert, 55, of Pankhurst Close, New Cross is the owner of popular ‘Nat’s Bake & Juice’ of 12 Brockley Cross, Brockley.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to allowing the premises to be used for smoking cannabis and possessing three small bags of the drug at his home address on June 4.

Police executing a search warrant at the café (pictured) discovered twelve to fifteen male customers in the smoke-filled basement with various amounts of cannabis found on them when searched.

Lambert, who confesses he “turned a blind eye” to the smoking was upstairs cooking at the time.

It was the second recent police raid on the café, which Lambert began running in 2006, and on October 20, last year he received a fifty-one week prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Woolwich Crown Court for an identical offence.

The court heard Lambert, who has other previous drug convictions, smokes cannabis for pain relief following a car accident and hernia injury picked up when employed years ago as a panel beater.

His back is partially paralysed and he spends £60 per week on cannabis to also alleviate headaches, stomach and hip pain.

Activating the suspended sentence in full the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Lambert: “Like it or not cannabis is unlawful in this country and it has been for a long time. Other pain relief remedies are available.

“Let this be a lesson to you. When you come out of prison get your brain in gear that cannabis is unlawful or you will just keep going back to prison.”

A fifty-one week concurrent prison sentence was passed for the new offence of allowing his premises to be used, with one month concurrent for possessing the three small bags of cannabis.

Lambert pleaded not guilty to possessing £3,000 in criminal property on June 4 and the prosecution did not proceed with the charge.

On September 28, 2006 seven arrests were made at the café, including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, and a closure order was issued the same evening.

The premises were raided by the police’s Strategic Support Group, supported by Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods team after eight months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Bangladeshi Benefits Cheat Banged up

A benefits cheat who claimed over £37,000 in disability and other payments while employed in a physically-demanding hospital cleaning job has been jailed for twelve months.

Bangladesh-born Shiree Begum, 61, of Cornwallis Square, Upper Holloway also received income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit payments while putting in a thirty-seven hour week at St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfields (pictured).

Begum, who fled to her homeland after she was initially quizzed by investigators, was arrested on her return to the UK and is currently in receipt of disability living allowance.

Her initial disability claim for an arthritic knee in 1997 was legitimate, but on November 11, 2002 she began working under an alias and her tasks included hovering, mopping, emptying rubbish bins and lifting.

While employed full-time she obtained £14,714 in disability benefit; £6,915 income support; £10,316 in housing benefit and £5,442 in council tax benefit.

Begum pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to four charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of work and Pensions and the London Borough of Islington.

The first-time offender, who produced a forty-one page medical history to the court, quit working in September, 2005 due to illness.

Her 87 year-old husband has his own health issues, suffering heart problems and currently recovering from tumor surgery.

Recorder Constance Briscoe told the visibly shaken defendant: “You failed to disclose that you were capable of carrying out a decent week’s work even though you were lifting, walking, cleaning despite the disability you claimed.

“This offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be passed.”

Sex Case Shame Haunts Knife-Wielding Offender

A convicted sex offender who brandished a Stanley knife at would-be vigilantes who confronted him in a crowded shopping street has been locked up for a year today.

Homeless restaurant worker Roland Coueta, 24, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to possessing an offensive weapon in the town's bustling marketplace - Surrey Street on July 2.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Mazibrada told the court it was 1 pm when a concerned member of the public pointed out to police a group of five black males standing outside a Jamaican food shop after spotting one of them wielding a blade.

Police approached and French Guyana-born Coueta - who was ordered to sign-on the sex offender's register for 10 years - was seen striding towards his accusers in an "aggressive manner" and shouting: "You think you're a big man."

Officers drew C.S. gas and the defendant dropped the knife - which had an extra-long blade - without resistance.

Father-of-two Coueta told police he grabbed the knife from a shop counter for his own protection when approached by an angry group who knew his background.

"One of them attacked his house in 2008," said the defendant's lawyer Miss Adiatu Tejan. "He is mortified at being here after trying to get his life back together."

Judge C.C.D Lindsay QC told Coueta, who was on bail accused of domestic violence at the time of the offence: "This offence is serious. You had a Stanley knife and the blade was seen by a member of the public."

Do You Know This Sex Attacker?

Police hunting a late-night South London sex attacker who pounced on a 20 year-old woman in her bedroom after being invited into her shared home have released an e-fit of the suspect.

Detective Constable James Fox from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Command said: “We are asking for anyone with any information that could help us find this man to contact us as soon as possible.

“This man took advantage of a woman after he befriended her housemate and I would urge anyone who may recognise the person from the e-fit or with information about who this man is to come forward and assist the police with the investigation.

“We have a DNA profile of the suspect so we would like to reassure people that anyone who was not involved will be eliminated from our enquires quickly.”

At approximately 2:00 am on Friday January 29 the victim was woken up at her home address in Tooting having been sexually assaulted by the suspect.

He ended up in the victim's home after befriending one of her housemates on a night out in nearby Mitcham Road.

The suspect is described as a white man – probably Polish - who has short light brown or blond hair.

He is 5' 9" tall, of medium build and is clean-shaven.

He was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Sapphire Command office on 020 8649 3105 or if you wish to remain anonymous ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

'Guru Of Suburbia' Caged For Rape And Sex Attack On Disciples

A self-styled spiritual guru has been locked up for ten years for raping and sexually assaulting two of the many women who fell under his spell.

Michael Lyons, 52, of Brondesbury Park, Cricklewood, North-West London called himself Mohan Singh and won praise from many followers for his skill in teaching and administering mental and physical well-being.

However, seven women claimed they were victims of sex attacks and a Wood Green Crown Court jury convicted Lyons of raping one 34 year-old and assaulting a 43 year-old.

His conviction follows a lengthy and demanding investigation led by Camden Police Sapphire officers, which included travel to the US to identify witnesses and secure evidence.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Nick Giles said: “The prosecution evidence showed Lyons operated as a 'spiritual group leader' operating predominately in the United Kingdom and United States.

“Lyons purported to be a naturopath, skilled in osteopathy, acupuncture and nutrition.

“His followers were mainly women, who supported his lavish lifestyle.

“He was introduced to potential new members through his followers and the new members were also women, with interests in spiritualism and well being.

“We heard in evidence that Lyons used a program of sleep deprivation, psychological harassment as well as group social pressure to coerce them to join and sexually assaulted victims during this process.

“This coercive persuasion forced people to change their beliefs, ideas, attitudes and behaviours, using psychological pressure, undue influence, threats, anxiety and intimidation.

“Witnesses from the UK, the USA and New Zealand gave evidence against Lyons who denied all the offences.

“Evidence of bad character was used to show his cult activities and sexual misconduct.

“My praise goes to the victims of his crimes and I hope today's conviction can assist them, knowing they have contributed to bringing a dangerous offender to justice.

On October 2, 2005 Camden's Sapphire Unit launched an investigation after police received an allegation of rape from a 26-year-old woman.

The woman alleged Lyons raped her on two occasions at an address in Belsize Park, North London.

During the investigation the 43-year-old victim alleged Lyons sexually assaulted her after meeting him through his group in London in January 2005.

As part of their enquiries, officers linked the allegations to an alleged rape committed against the 34-year-old victim in June 2002.

Lyons’ details were circulated via Interpol and on the September 22, 2007 he returned to the UK and was arrested by police at Heathrow Airport and taken to Holborn Police Station for questioning.

Lyons was also charged with raping a 24 year-old American in 1998 and a 23 year-old New Zealander in 2005.

He also faced two counts of sexual assault regarding a 31-year-old in Manchester and a 45-year-old in July 2008.

Algerian Rape Suspect Hunted For Soho Attack

Police hunting a duo of rapists who attacked a lone teenage girl after she left a West End bar have released this photo of 27 year-old Algerian Fethi Hammadi in a bid to capture him.

The 19 year-old became separated from friends in the early hours of April 14 and was confronted by a group of men in Falconberg Mews, Soho Square and raped by two of them.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit want to question the suspect in relation to the attack.

Police attended after the alarm was raised and the victim was taken to a local Haven centre.

Anyone who can assist in locating Hammadi are asked to contact Westminster’s Sapphire Unit on 0207 321 8040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Ambassador's Former Butler Plunges From High Life To Low Life

The ex-butler to the Japanese Ambassador now lives in a hostel for single men after a violent knifepoint bust-up with his younger wife wrecked his marriage and gave him a criminal record.

Retired Franciso Quintos, 60, of Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, who suspected she was having an affair, was arrested after a vodka-fueled confrontation at the couple’s matrimonial home.

Quintos, who in March, 2007 received a police caution for assaulting his wife after she smashed their new flat screen television pleaded guilty to affray at Clarkson House, Maysoule Road, Wandsworth on November 21, last year.

“He is a man who has lost absolutely everything,” his lawyer Miss Julia Mackworth told Kingston upon Thames Crown Court.

“He was the butler to the Japanese Ambassador in the Court of St. James' (pictured) and now spends his days drinking beer by himself and thinking back.”

Prosecutor Miss Hannah Duncan told the court it was 1am when Quintos woke his wife and quizzed her about the suspected affair with a work colleague – who she now shares their marital home with.

As their eight year-old daughter slept Quintos threatened to kill the entire family if his suspicions were confirmed.

“He said if he could prove it he would kill them all and returned from the kitchen with a knife,” explained Miss Duncan.

“He pinned his wife to the sofa while pointing the knife at her and said: ‘I will try it now’ and she says she thought he was going to kill her.”

She locked herself in the bedroom and called a friend and police, who arrested Quintos at the address.

Judge Susan Tapping told the defendant: “Your behaviour that night was disgraceful and your eight year-old daughter was in the house at the time.

“You got yourself drunk, you were out of control and took a kitchen knife and threatened your wife.”

Quintos was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for one year and placed under a nine-month supervision order, which includes six months alcohol treatment.

Crooked Caretaker Dodges More Jail For Targeting Residents

A guilt-ridden residential caretaker at a landmark development, who raided unsuspecting residents flats while they were out, helping himself to thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and electrical equipment returned from South Africa to “face the music.”

Scottish-born Paul Cunningham, 45, took a £4,000 car from one resident of Downings House, (pictured) a Grade II listed former school building at 21 Southey Road, Wimbledon, loaded it up with loot and pawned the lot.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court to burgling one female resident on or before April 9, stealing a diamond ring, sapphire and diamond ring, gold watch, gold ring, broche and chain, worth £7,200.

He also admitted taking a £1,100 Sony television and surround-sound equipment from another flat and stealing a set of car keys for a Toyota Yaris from a couple who were on holiday.

“He had gone to South Africa, but came back to face the music,” Cunningham’s lawyer Mr. Michael Marlow told the court today.

Cunningham, whose family emigrated to South Africa when he was young, initially returned to the UK in 2007 and got the caretaker’s job on June 1, 2008.

The position came with spare sets of keys for all the flats and the first victim suddenly realised jewellery was missing from inside her ground-floor flat despite no evidence of a break-in.

Later that month a letting-agent noticed household electrical equipment was missing from an unoccupied flat and when a couple returned from holiday on April 11 their car was gone.

On each occasion the victims tried to call trusted Cunningham to report the crimes, but there was no response.

On April 12 the defendant sent a text to the couple, informing them their vehicle was parked at Gatwick Airport and it was recovered by Sussex Police.

He sent a follow-up text revealing he was returning to “face the music.”

He also revealed the jewellery had been pawned at a broker’s in Tooting and some of it was returned to the victim.

Cunningham was circulated as wanted on the Police National Computer, but he returned to the UK and handed himself into Wimbledon Police Station on May 8.

The defendant, who claims he has a heroin and sleeping pills addiction, told officers he only received £155 for the jewellery and sold the television for £500.

“You should be under no delusions these were serious offences,” Judge Martin Binning told Cunningham. “There was a serious breach of trust.”

The defendant, who has been in custody for three months, was sentenced to a two-year supervision order with an eighteen-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the victims.

Party Double-Killer Jailed For Life

A vicious New Year’s gunman who shot a reluctant DJ through the neck – also killing a fellow partygoer with the same bullet – is starting a life sentence for the double murder.

Ashley Kenton, 22 – known as DJ Creation – (pic.top) and Wayne Mowatt, 29, (pic.mid) were shot at the violent party in Shore Place, Homerton, East London on January 1, 2002.

Jobless Ian Davis, 33, (pic.bottom) of Bellefield Road, Brixton, South London fled to the USA afterwards and was eventually held at Long Beach Airport, California on August 7, 2003 for immigration offences and returned to the UK.

The Old Bailey heard Davis was annoyed Mr. Kenton refused to continue DJing the private party after several scuffles and shot him through the neck, with the bullet passing through a partition wall and striking Mr. Mowatt in the head.

Mr. Kenton, of Brookmill Road, Deptford, South-East London was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital and Mr. Mowatt, of Clapham Road, Clapham, South-West London died later that day.

After his arrest on September 18, 2003 Davis was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with a twenty-year minimum.

In 2008 The House of Lords quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial and Davis will now not be eligible for parole until 2023.

Detective Inspector Mark Gower of Trident – the police team who investigate violent black-on-black crime - said: “I would like to thank the victims’ families for their continued support throughout what has been a protracted and complex investigation and hope today’s result goes some way to providing them with an element of closure.

“I would also like to commend the witnesses for their bravery, especially given the majority gave evidence at the earlier trials.

“This case successfully utilised the new anonymity legislation in support of one witness and demonstrates Operation Trident’s commitment to ensuring justice prevails - no matter how much time has elapsed.”

Twenty Years For Drug Smuggler Whose Cocaine-Laced Rum Killed Cabbie

A "reckless and greedy" drug smuggler who killed an innocent mini-cab driver who drank 100% pure liquid cocaine imported by unsuspecting mules inside bottles of Caribbean rum was jailed for twenty years today (Wednesday).

Father-of-two Lascelle Malcolm, 63, of Rutland Gardens, Haringey, North London died in agony in front of his terrified son after drinking from a bottle of St. Lucian 'Bounty' rum, gifted by a friend for collecting her at Gatwick Airport.

She was given the bottle by a holiday friend who Croydon Crown Court heard was persuaded to carry it through Customs by 50 year-old Martin Newman, of 38 Wadeville Avenue, Romford, Essex.

Music promoter Newman, who is wanted by the FBI, had four aliases and served five years in the USA for cheque and credit card fraud denied, but was convicted unanimously by the jury of the manslaughter of Mr. Malcolm (pic.top) and importing cocaine.

Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told the defendant, who showed no emotion: "This was utter reckless and greedy criminal conduct for monetary gain.

"One life was sadly lost in a terrible way with the suffering that man had to endure from the poisonous rum and both his nephew and a family friend were poisoned by your deadly rum."

Newman,(pic.mid) who claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy involving UK Customs and the St. Lucian authorities, stretching all the way up to the island's deputy PM received twenty years for manslaughter and fifteen years concurrent for importing cocaine.

"You have shown no remourse at all and I regard your offences as grave and there are aggravating features," added the Judge.

"I regard you as an organiser in this greedy endeavor to make financial gain.

"You used innocent carriers you duped and tricked and befriended, leaving them helpless to the risk of being caught and imprisoned for a long time.

"You used these dupes without precautions to protect themselves from the deadly substances they were carrying - pure cocaine mixed in bottles of rum.

"You left them open to the risk they or someone else may take a drink, believing they were taking a harmless shot of rum."

Prosecutor Mr. Oliver Glasgow told the jury In the early hours of May 26, last year Mr. Malcolm rang the emergency services because of chest pains and a headache, informing the doctors at the Whittington Hospital he had drunk Guinness and a shot of rum the night before.

Tragically Mr. Malcolm was discharged because doctors could not find anything seriously wrong with him.

"The true nature of the illness had yet to be discovered and at home he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed in front of his terrified son," added Mr. Glasgow.

Friends and family paid their respects the next day and two mourners, including the dead man's 40 year-old nephew, toasted Mr. Malcolm with the cocaine-laced rum (pic.bottom) and were rushed to hospital after collapsing with seizures.

"The bottle they poured alcohol from was the same bottle of rum. They noticed an unpleasant taste and spat it out.

"It was a horrifying turn of events and the family asked: 'How could three men fall ill'."

Police analysed the bottle of rum. "Pure cocaine had been dissolved into the alcohol. The cocaine within it was lethal. A teaspoon could cause an overdose," explained Mr. Glasgow.

Mr. Malcolm's friend, Antoinette Corliss, who he had collected from the airport told police the bottle of rum was given to her by friend Michael Lawrence, a native St. Lucian, who she had travelled back from the Caribbean with.

She confirmed it had been given to him by the defendant at the airport.

"The defendant approached Mr. Lawrence and explained he needed help with taking rum back to the U.K. He had ten bottles and could not take that many in.

"Mr. Lawrence agreed and said he would return the bottles to the defendant back in the U.K," said Mr. Glasgow.

When Mr. Lawrence's bags showed excess weight Newman allegedly claimed he worked in St. Lucian immigration and could get the charges waived.

Tragically Mr. Lawrence did not hand the bottle over to Newman in London, but gave it to Ms. Corliss, who presented it as a gift to the Mr. Malcolm.

"The defendant was involved in the importation of liquid cocaine and the death of Lascelle Malcolm was a result of his gross negligence," Mr. Glasgow told the jury.