'Dudus' to make seventh pre-trial court appearance

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

NEW YORK, USA — Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the former reputed don of Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston, is set to make another appearance in a Manhattan Court here today.

Today's appearance, the seventh by Coke since waiving his rights to an extradition hearing in Jamaica last June, is expected to be another routine pre-trial status conference hearing.

But, Judge Robert P Patterson could also use the hearing to announce the way forward, including the setting of a trial date and the start of jury selection. At Coke's last appearance in April, Patterson granted prosecution and defence attorneys more time to prepare their case, including the possible filing of motions.

Coke has been accused of drugs and weapons running, but at least one of his attorneys has publicly raised questions about the methods used by US authorities in securing information in cases like Coke's.

Despite an order from Coke that his attorneys not speak to the press, the Observer tried yesterday to get comments from his legal defence team on the question of a possible plea bargain deal.

However, the attorneys were said to be unavailable, as they were in discussions with Coke.