The ganja is for asthma

Jul 29, 2008 News

– defence counsel

A father of one was remanded to prison yesterday after he pleaded guilty to a possession of narcotics charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Kenrick Estwick, 51, of 345 ‘A’ Field Sophia, is accused of having in his possession five grams of cannabis on July 26, at Hague, West Coast Demerara.

Estwick, the father of one, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.

The accused was represented by defence counsel Patrice Henry, who asked the magistrate to exercise leniency. He told the magistrate that his client is asthmatic and uses the cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Henry further added that, prior to this incident, his client never had any other run-in with the law, and as such asked that a non-custodian sentenced be imposed on his client.

Police prosecutor Desiree Fowler told the court that, on the day in question, the police, acting on information, went to Hague, West Coast Demerara, and located the accused.

She said a party of police conducted a search on the accused and a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis, were found. This was later confirmed at the Leonora Police Station, where the suspect was detained.

The magistrate then asked the defence counsel to tender a clinic card in court later today, when the case will be called again, to show that his client is indeed asthmatic.