Local men face trail over drugs and guns charges

Courthouse door, Grand Cayman

(CNS): Two local men arrested in North Side earlier this year both denied guns and drugs charges when they appeared in Grand Court Friday and will now stand trial. Keith Montaque (25) and Walter McLaughlin (26) were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to three counts of possession of unlicensed firearms. The pair were two of three men arrested during a police bust in Frank Sound in February.

The case against the third arrested suspect, Bill McCoy (61), will not be pursued by the crown, the court heard, and charges against him are expected to be formally dropped later this week.

Montaque and McLaughlin were alleged to have in their possession a .38 caliber revolver, .9 millimeter pistol and a couple rounds of ammunition. The two men have also been charged with drugs offences. Montaque was charged with possession of cocaine, and consumption of both ganja and cocaine. McLaughlin was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of ganja with intent to supply, and five other charges relating to utensils used in the preparation of ganja cocaine.

The trial against Montaque and McLaughlin is set to last for five days and will begin in October. Having denied the allegations, if convicted the men face a mandatory minimum jail term of ten years.

CNS Intern Jaida Alexander contributed to this report.