THE IN-CAMERA trial of the 29-year-old man who is charged with the alleged drugging of Mrs. Beverly Lopez, president of the Jamaica Exporters Association was adjourned for three hours yesterday to give him time to seek legal advice on certain technical issues.
When Steve McCalla appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday for the continuation of his trial, he told Mr. Justice Howard Cooke that he needed legal advice.
The judge asked attorney-at-law C. J. Mitchell to assist McCalla and he agreed. An adjournment was granted and during the adjournment McCalla was assisted by Mr. Mitchell and attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson.
Mrs. Lopez continued her evidence in chief when the trial resumed after 3 p.m. yesterday. McCalla is still defending himself.
When evidence began in McCalla's case last week Wednesday he told the court that he did not want attorney-at-law Lloyd McFarlane to represent him. He said then that he would defend himself and the judge granted his request. The case was put off until yesterday to give McCalla time to prepare his case. Mr. McFarlane was representing McCalla on a legal aid assignment.
McCalla is accused of drugging and demanding money from Mrs. Lopez, at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on November 1, last year.
McCalla is charged with five counts, one of which is that he adminstered a stupefying drug on Mrs. Lopez on November 1 last year with intent to enable himself to indecently assault her.
The Crown is alleging that Mrs. Lopez was lured to the Hilton Kingston Hotel on November 1, last year by a man with a British accent who claimed he was a journalist and wanted to interview her. When she went to the hotel, a man allegedly brandished a knife and with the assistance of a woman, overpowered Mrs. Lopez and forced her to drink a sedative. She was tied up and left in the hotel. She subsequently discovered that $3,000, her credit card and cheque book were stolen.
McCalla is also charged with administering the stupefying drug with intent to enable himself to extort money from Mrs. Lopez. He is also charged with demanding money with menaces with intent to steal.
The particulars of the offence are that on November 1, last year, McCalla by menaces or by force demanded $400,000 from Mrs Lopez with intent to steal. He is charged with forgery in that McCalla with intent to defraud, forged a cheque in favour of Mrs. Lopez in the sum of $50,000. The fifth count charges McCalla with simple larceny. It is being alleged that he stole nine credit cards and $3,000 from Mrs. Lopez.
Miss Lisa Palmer is representing the Crown.
