No fingerprint analysis done on cans with liquid cocaine

As the case of cocaine in Hairoun product cans continued this last week, investigating officer, PC 272 Chris John said no fingerprint analysis was done to ascertain if Lisa Hooper’s prints were found on them.{{more}}

Hooper is currently on trial at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for possession of 1,235 grams of cocaine, and two charges of conspiracy to export and drug trafficking, between July 1 and 24, 2013, at the E.T. Joshua Airport.

Under cross-examination on March 18, Hooper’s lawyer Jomo Thomas put it to John that he asked his client in an interview if they were to conduct a fingerprint analysis, whether her fingerprints would be displayed on the cans.

John admitted that he had asked the question and after Thomas asked if Hooper’s prints were found on the cans, he replied “No.”

“Do we still do fingerprint analysis in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force,” Thomas asked.

“I’m not aware. Not to my knowledge,” John replied.

“Why did you raise the point about fingerprints to Hooper then?” Thomas asked.

“I think the question was fitting at the moment and it was related to the case,” John replied.

Thomas told the officer that his case was “half-baked” and that he thought he had a case against Hooper when he didn’t.

Hooper, 22, of Campden Park, was initally jointly charged with Nathan Smith of England, who appeared as a witness for the state in the matter.

Smith, who is currently serving a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to the charges, told the court that Hooper was the one who brought the aluminium cans for him.

On July 24, 2013, at the E.T. Joshua Airport, PC John discovered cocaine in Smith’s luggage in cans of Hairoun beer, Presidente beer and Vitamalt.

John, in his testimony, told the court that on July 24, during a search of Smith’s luggage, he found the three aluminium cans wrapped in three separate pieces of clothing.

“I weighed the cans separately and noticed that they weighed more than what was stated on the can. I became suspicious and opened all three cans and saw a brownish solution flowing out,” John told the court.

He said he weighed the contents of the three cans and they amounted to 43.5 fluid ounces, which when converted to grams amounted to 1235 grams.

The matter will continue on March 25.