From Peter Polack

Andre Woodman who had been charged in November 2013 by the police with a number of drug charges after police raided a house in Northward and seized drug paraphernalia, scales, bags, 10 ounces of ganja and almost 7 ounces of cocaine including rock cocaine was sentenced in the Summary Court today to time served.

A woman found at the house was tried separately in the Grand Court at the direction of the ODPP. She was set free after the Grand Court ruled that her admission statement was inadmissible due to a failure of the RCIPS to caution her properly. The ODPP declined to pursue that case further.

The controversial case came to public attention when his lawyer Peter Polack filed complaints against the Justice of the Peace William Wood and the investigating officer DC Harrison in regard to the search warrant used to search the premises. In July 2014 the Summary Court ruled that the search warrant was illegal and Woodman was bailed after 8 months in custody.

Subsequently a complaint was made to the Anti-Corruption unit against DC Harrison in regard to the illegal search warrant and several other matters.

The case continued for over two years with the police and ODPP being unable to complete disclosure. At the trial date in November 2015 Woodman pleaded guilty to possession of ganja, cocaine and consumption of ganja. The ODPP withdrew the charge of possession with intent to supply. On Tuesday Woodman was sentenced to the 8 months imprisonment by the presiding Magistrate or time served from his arrest until bail.

All complaints against Justice of the Peace William Wood and DC Winston Harrison were withdrawn.

Woodman was defended by prominent Jamaican lawyer Peter Champagnie who was instructed by Polack and Co. The ODPP was represented by Greg Walcolm.

IMAGE: (Rosie McNamee) (Supplied)