The jury trial of Tautua Letasi on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute began in High Court this morning.
Letasi was charged after police found in his vehicle during a traffic stop last year, a 12-gauge shotgun, narcotics and ammunition.
The Samoa News reports that yesterday Assistant Public defender Ryan Anderson made a motion to continue the case to allow him the opportunity to speak to his client whom he met for the first time yesterday.
He said the case had been handled by former Public Defender Douglas Fiaui.
But prosecutor Woodrow Pendgally objected.
He said the government was ready to proceed and one of its witnesses, a representative from the Drug Enforcement Agency, is arriving this week to testify.
The motion to continue was denied by Chief Justice Michael Kruse who said the court was unable to find any grounds to support the motion.
The Chief Justice also noted that one of the conditions for the defendant’s release was that he stay in close contact with his attorney, which he failed to do.
And he was also to submit to random drug testing which he did not comply with.
The Chief Probation Officer informed the court he was only able to test Letasi yesterday as he couldn’t be found all this time.
