Charlestown couple remanded after drug bust at home

A man and woman found with 30 grammes of cannabis at their Broad Street, Charlestown home were yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Joseph Barton, 32 and Denise Van Lange, 18, denied that on July 18, at their 17 Broad Street Charlestown, Georgetown residence, they had the cannabis in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Prosecutor Vernette Pindar, police went to the home of Barton and Van Lange based on information they received and discovered the cannabis.

But attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, who represented the defendants, argued that the cannabis was found in a milk tin which was left at the premises by previous tenants. He contended that his clients knew nothing about the substance.

These circumstances, Fung-A-Fat advanced, constituted special reasons for bail. He also described Van Lange as being “merely a child herself” who has an eight-month-old baby.

The magistrate, however, advised the counsel that the grounds he advanced were not special circumstances relating to the offence and as result bail would be denied. The matter will be called again on July 26.