Prosecutor says focus on facts, not sentiment

Marlon Hosea Carrington is not before the court on money laundering charges simply because he is a “poor black man”.

Instead, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale insisted, he had found himself charged because he was discovered with a substantial amount of cash for which he could not give an account.

Seale made those points on Wednesday while delivering closing arguments in the No. 4 Supreme Court when Carrington’s trial continued.

Carrington, of Phillips Road, the Pine, St Michael, is accused of engaging in a transaction involving $57 000 being the proceeds of crime, on December 7, 2009.

He is also charged with engaging in money laundering by having $49 941 and US$36 being the proceeds of crime, in his possession on October 31, 2012.

In addressing the jury, Seale described it as a “tightrope case” and a “simple and straightforward matter”.

He told jurors that the accused was before the court following a lengthy investigation by police who had delved into Carrington’s financial records.

Seale said this was done with zero assistance from the accused.

He urged the jury not to use sentiment in coming to a verdict.

“This is not a political meeting in Oistins. We are in court. I am not playing to any sentiment…. I am not putting race against race, class against class, or that only black people does get charge and only poor people does get charge…. I am not interested in that.

“If you feel there is injustice in Barbados, there is a way to deal with those issues, but that is not here…. If you want to get in the sad stories then go along, but I am not there with you. It is not about emotion,” Seale said.

The prosecutor pointed out that with Carrington having last worked in 2006, it was strange he would be driving around with $50 000 in cash in his car when he was stopped by police in 2012.

Seale said what made Carrington’s story about the money being his savings and proceeds from selling and buying cars so unbelievable, was the fact that he did not tell that to police when he was interviewed.

He maintained that if that money was from legitimate sources, Carrington would have cooperated with police to recoup his money which was seized.

Defence counsel, Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne will deliver his closing arguments tomorrow.

The matter is being heard by Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell.