Illiterate man pleads guilty

He may be illiterate, but Andy Providence knew how to plead not guilty to having 5.5 pounds(2497 grams) of cannabis and guilty to having 166 grams of cannabis in his possession with intent to supply to another at Green Hill.{{more}}

Providence, 31, a labourer of Green Hill, appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday before Senior Magistrate Donald Browne on both charges.

Providence asked the Magistrate to kindly read out “the bigger and smaller charge” and explain them to him, as he could not comprehend fully. He told the court that he was guilty of the possession charge but not guilty of supplying it.

He further added that it was someone who gave him the weed to smoke and that the person had already died. “Is somebody gimme the weed. I now come back from Canada for six months to go back to meet my wife,” said Providence.

Magistrate Browne, however, transferred the matter to the Serious Offences Court for sentencing. The matter should have been heard yesterday. (KW)