Men on drugs charges have sentencing date set

Friday 13 July 2018

Two men have been given a date to be sentenced for drugs charges in a court case which has been shrouded in mystery so far.

One man remains in custody while the second is out on police bail, pending sentencing in the Royal Court on 30 August 2018.

Neil Macdonald has been in custody since his arrest earlier in the year on a number of charges. He will now be sentenced on six charges including a joint charge with Jack Falla in relation to charges of drug dealing.

Both men appeared before the court on Thursday where the sentencing date for the joint charge was agreed. It was noted that both men had already pleaded guilty to this indictment.

There was some discussion between the defence advocates on the joint charge and whether the two defendants would be trying to blame each other or making one or other look like they were more to blame. The prosecution then stated that the facts of the joint charge were that Falla had got the drugs, passed them to MacDonald and then he had sold them. The prosecution further stated that the amount of drugs in question was 150grams.

Further to this the court heard how there was some text message evidence to show that there was a financial incentive in this for at least one of the defendants.

The judge confirmed that he noted the concerns and set the date for sentencing as 30 August with Falla released on bail and MacDonald returned to custody.

Express reported in March that MacDonald had been remanded in custody until a future court hearing, after appearing before Guernsey's Magistrates Court on three drugs related charges and three charges relating to a shotgun and ammunition. 38 year old Macdonald has been in custody since his arrest earlier this year. 

He was charged with possession of a side by side shotgun, which he did not have a Shotgun Certificate for; a shotgun, which he did not have a Shotgun Certificate for, and 12 bore shotgun cartridges whilst not being the holder of a Shotgun Certificate. Mr McDonald was also charged with possessing and supplying a Class A drug, LSD and possessing a Class B drug, Cannabis Resin. 

He will remain in custody at Les Nicolles prison until 30 August when he will be sentenced on all 6 charges which includes the joint charge.