Jailed man ‘missed’ warrant

ALL THE WHILE a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Mitchell Ken Oneal Lewis was in prison.

That was revealed on Tuesday when the vendor, 45, of Clifton Hall, and his co-accused Tysia Nadiera Goddard, 23, of Sargeant Street, both in St John, appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court, charged with possession, trafficking and supplying cannabis on December 17.

After they both entered not-guilty pleas, prosecutor Sergeant Rudy Pilgrim did not object to Goddard receiving bail, but argued against Lewis receiving any on the grounds he had had similar antecedents and had missed court in pending matters.

But the accused disputed those claims, saying he had been incarcerated from May 23, 2014, to November 2016.

“I was in prison all of that time, Sir,” he told Magistrate Douglas Frederick.

“I have never missed a court date yet. I was in jail for two years. When I was in jail I never went to court and I never got a date. When I went home I never got a warrant or summons. I go to court at Boarded Hall and I report to the police station.”

A check of the court records confirmed Lewis was telling the truth.

“I will never, ever miss your court date, Sir; just give me a chance,” he said.

Magistrate Frederick gave him a chance, and released the two on $2 800 bail. They are to return to court on March 28. (RB)