Brereton Horne, instructed by Andnio Toussaint of Lawrence and Co Solicitors, secured the acquittal of his client who faced an indictment containing three counts: Possession with intent to supply 2.99kg of Cocaine; Possession of Criminal Property (£40,000 in cash); and Dangerous Driving.
The prosecution alleged that Brereton’s client, the defendant, was the getaway driver of the white van in which the drugs and money were found, when the defendant was forced off the road, into the central reservation, by the police. The other occupant of the vehicle previously pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs and the money. A third person (whom the prosecution alleged was in convoy, with the white van, and therefore in joint possession of the drugs and the money) was tried with the defendant and was acquitted by the jury.
Brereton addressed the jury on the defendant’s lack of knowledge of the drugs and the money, and of the questionable credibility of the police officers in relation to the dangerous driving charge. The jury were unable to reach any verdict (they were hung) and were therefore discharged by the trial judge. The prosecution then sought advice and subsequently (within seven days) decided not to seek a retrial against the defendant. The prosecution offered no evidence on each count, and the judge entered verdicts of not guilty, on each of the three counts.
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