Officer testifies in trial of woman accused of taking phone into prison

The first prosecution witness yesterday took the stand at the start of the trial of Marceline Small who is accused of taking a cell phone into the Camp Street Prison.
Paula Graham, Principal Officer One attached to the Georgetown Prison testified.

The matter which is being heard by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court is set to continue on July 20.

The allegation against Small is that on January 24, she took a prohibited article into the prison, to wit a cell phone.

Marceline Small

When she made her initial appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, she was remanded to prison on the grounds that the offence is a serious one.

The defendant was however granted bail by the High Court in the sum of $100,000. The successful bail application was made by her attorney Pamela De Santos before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question, the accused had gone to the prison to visit someone when she was caught by prison officials taking a cell phone into the prison.

The defendant is the wife of Barry Small who is one of the two persons accused of murdering schoolgirl Neesa Gopaul. Gopaul’s mother Bibi Sharima Gopaul has been jointly arraigned with Barry Small.