Miami Judge Kathleen Williams has decided to reschedule the trial of former Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Andrew Fahie, to January 29.
The high-profile case, which has garnered significant attention, revolves around charges of drug smuggling, money laundering, and racketeering.
Trial delayed again
The trial was due to have started on Monday after being pushed back by two weeks on January 8.
However, Justice Kathleen Williams announced in a paperless motion that the been moved back by a further week.
Reports are that the judge was expected to hear arguments from both sides about introducing foreign law jury instructions and expert witnesses into the trial, the issue of hearsay testimony, a possible entrapment defence, and other matters that recently arose.
Defense challenges “eleventh-hour” motions
Fahie’s attorney, Theresa Van Vliet, made a plea to the court to dismiss what she characterized as the prosecution’s “eleventh-hour” motions.
Van Vliet argued that these motions filed a mere three weeks prior to the trial’s commencement, raised several pivotal issues for the first time.
Background to the charges
The charges against Fahie stem from his arrest in April 2022.
Authorities apprehended him along with former BVI Ports Director Oleanvine Maynard, alleging their involvement in a conspiracy.
It is alleged that Fahie, in collusion with Maynard and her son, Kadeem Maynard, agreed to facilitate the passage of significant quantities of cocaine through the ports of the British Overseas Territory.
Undercover operation unveiled
According to U.S. prosecutors, this scheme was part of a multi-million dollar deal allegedly struck by the former premier with an undercover informant from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who posed as a drug trafficker at the time.
Kadeem Maynard has recently been sentenced to 57 months in prison after entering a plea deal related to his role in the operation.
Meanwhile, his mother, Oleanvine Maynard, who has also pleaded guilty and accepted a plea deal, is expected to serve as the prosecution’s primary witness.
Andrew Fahie faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted on the charges currently brought against him.
As a condition of his one-million-dollar bail, he has been confined to his daughters’ residence in Miami.
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