ST JAMES, Jamaica— The drug trial for a St Elizabeth farmer, who was arrested in September 2021 following the alleged discovery of over five kilogrammes of cocaine in his vehicle in Bogue Village, Montego Bay, St James has been rescheduled for April 12 to facilitate the interview of a witness in the case.

Leo Daley, 41, of a Kilmarnock, St Elizabeth address, is currently on trial for allegations related to the possession and conspiracy to traffic 5.8 kilogrammes of cocaine. Additionally, he is charged with illegal possession of ammunition.

The defendant’s trial was slated for continuation in the St James Parish Court on Tuesday. However, the proceedings had to be postponed as attorney Michael Hemmings – standing in for the defendant’s lawyer Martyn Thomas – asked for a new date to allow time for a specific witness in the case to be interviewed.

Following further discussions with the prosecution and the defence, presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley scheduled the case for continuation on April 12 and extended Daley’s bail to that date.

According to the allegations, on September 8, 2021, a police team acting on information went to Bogue Village in Montego Bay, where they saw a grey Honda motorcar being driven by Daley. The vehicle was searched, and five packages with a white powdery substance resembling cocaine, along with a .6mm cartridge, were reportedly found.

Under caution, Daley allegedly said, “Miss, a one-kilogramme mi have inna di car, and mi sey a drugs.”

He was subsequently arrested and charged.

A female passenger, identified as Shereen Daley, who was seen in the accused man’s car, was also arrested and charged with possession of and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

After attending multiple court sessions, she was ultimately cleared of the charges on July 23, 2023, after her attorney Andrew Dixon successfully argued for a no-case submission, highlighting a police witness’ testimony that Stewart had denied knowledge of the cocaine and that there was inadequate evidence to prove her knowledge of the substance being in the vehicle at the time.