By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

STEPHEN ‘Die’ Stubbs was acquitted in Magistrate’s Court yesterday of two drug charges brought against him last year, in which he faced a minimum of four years imprisonment if convicted.

The 38-year-old Ridgeland Park resident and 10 other men returned before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell to learn if the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence against them.

They faced one charge each of conspiracy to possess and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

It was claimed that Stubbs and his co-accused conspired to possess and were in possession of 15 packets of marijuana with intent to supply.

Of all 11 defendants, the deputy chief magistrate ruled that the prosecution had only brought sufficient evidence against 31-year-old Giovanni Roberts of Strachan’s Alley.

The other defendants, excluding Stubbs, were acquitted and discharged.

Stubbs was handcuffed and returned to prison, where he is presently serving a four-year sentence after being convicted last September for his part in a $6 million drug smuggling operation in 2009.

Roberts was asked by the court whether he would be taking the witness stand, calling witnesses, or saying nothing. Roberts chose to say nothing but called witnesses to testify in his defence.

His attorney, Roger Gomez II, said they would need the court’s assistance with getting two of the witnesses to be present to testify.

Robert’s defence begins on Friday, February 8.

The other defendants were: Dominic Levarity, of Armbrister Street, Fox Hill; Charles Davis, of St Margaret Road; Nevardo Nairn of Commonwealth Boulevard; Gerald Davis of Samana Drive, Marathon Estates; Dwight Stuart, of Lyon Road; Tavaris Miller of Kemp Road; Ricardo Davis of Dunmore Street; Shethron Darville of Eastwood; Antoine Bastian of Abraham Street; and Keno Whymms of Abraham Street.

Stuart, Darville and Ricardo Davis were represented by Tai Pinder.
Murrio Ducille and Nathan Smith represented Stubbs.