Bladen 12 Trial Continues: Challenges to Admissibility of Statements Raised

The men known as the Bladen 12, who are accused of facilitating a drug plane landing are back in court today. The matter has been in voir dire, a trial within a trial, for over a month now, as the defense attorneys challenge the admissibility of several caution statements given by the accused. This morning’s proceedings dealt with the caution statement of Moses Adan Perez, who claims he gave his statement after being severely beaten by police. Justice of the Peace Martin Cal, who authenticated Perez’s statement, took the stand on the last occasion to give evidence for the crown and today he was cross-examined by defense attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley. The crown also called former scenes of crime technician Barrington Montero to the stand. Montero was called to speak on a video recording of the caution statement, which was shown in court. However, before Montero’s testimony, four of the accused informed the court that they were uncomfortable with the proceedings as their lawyer Linden Jones, was not present. The matter court called an early lunch to allow Jones to be there for his clients, and Montero’s testimony concluded this evening. Outside the courtroom Bradley told Love News that the voir dire is progressing, but slowly. 

Bradley added that the matter might be faced with another major delay, as all defense attorneys have other matters, on dates proposed by the court for the continuation of the trial later this month. 

The trial resumes tomorrow for its last session for the week.