CCJ reserves judgment in case of Husbands

This country’s highest court on Tuesday reserved judgment in the case of a Bajan drug convict who is challenging his custodial sentence imposed by a magistrate.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) heard the appeal of Danny Lamar Husbands, who was sentenced to three months after being found guilty of trafficking of cannabis.

Husbands, who pleaded guilty, challenged the sentence, describing it as excessive.

In deciding the sentence, the magistrate took into account that Husbands had four previous convictions, including being fined for drug possession and cultivation of cannabis.

The magistrate found it fit to impose a custodial sentence as the previous convictions failed to deter him and that there was an escalation in the nature of the offences.

Husbands unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Appeal in Barbados that the sentence was excessive.

His appeal to the five-member CCJ panel of judges was heard on Tuesday on the same ground.

Andrew Pilgrim SC in association with Martie Garnes are representing the appellant, while acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney and Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde are appearing for the Commissioner of Police, the respondent. Solicitor General Anika Jackson in association with Reco Yearwood are involved in amicus curiae.

The CCJ has given the parties three weeks in which to file such further research or authorities that are relevant to the issues raised in the case.

(EJ)