| The last we reported on the trial of the Bladen 12 was in September of 2024 when final dock statements were tendered into evidence for the voir dire involving the three caution statements submitted by the accused.
And yesterday after many days in court, many arguments and counter arguments, Senior magistrate Baja Shoman ruled in favor of the defence.
She concluded that the 3 accused were subjected to some level of fear and intimidation which led to them giving caution statements. It's a major point established and it took months to reach this point but Defense Attorney Dickie Bradley says that it is important to note that they have not yet entered the substantive trial.
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"What has been taking place is we have not entered the substantive trial. That will happen tomorrow. The magistrate is using those words because what has happened is that there have been confession statements, if we could use those words, that were obtained from some of the accused persons. And myself and Lynden Jones were having a little shot crack in that we have seen the photographs. In the case of myself and the attorney, Leroy Banner, he had gone to the Queen Sheet police station."
"I had also visited these said persons. And they were bruised, battered, and beaten. You can't have bruises to your chest, to your side, to your back, to your batty, to your hand, your forehead. And that is because you were taken down by the river edge by the police, as they are claiming, oh, yes, we can't deny the man they don't have bruised, but then get it because when we were taking them by the river to look for the drugs, they fall down. What a coincidence that all the persons have fallen down. Based on the statements, the case has been severely weakened, severely. I'm going to, I hate to have to do that because you know we took a break because they accused Elmer Nah, who has his own troubles. I don't know how they do his this. I don't know if there's nobody that could look at this big thick file and say there is nothing against that man. I mean, he and I have been literally enemies because we have met in court over the years when the chance up people, when they plant thing in our view, when they do all kinds of things."
"So I'm not here trying to do anything other than."
Reporter
"You just admit that he has done other things that are against the order and law."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Yes, but you can't use that to try and... that is not how this work. That man is coming from PG about two days after the plane land and the drugs already got around, but because the public was out for blood. Anybody who could charge, a pity you can't just catch them fire and so on. That is not country we want."
The substantive trial resumed at 9:00 today and should go for next two weeks.
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