Heroin case cabbie loses appeal

A London cabbie has lost his appeal against an 11-year sentence for importing nearly half a million dollars of heroin into Bermuda.

Martin Cashman, 51, of St John's Wood, maintained he did not know the laminated pictures he carried on 5 October last year contained 498g of heroin laced with valium, but was convicted in February of importing and possession with intent to supply.

In his appeal, defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher argued there was procedural irregularity as the jury had asked Assistant Justice Archibald Warner if they could convict on one count only but he said he would speak to them on returning from another hearing, by which time they had convicted Cashman on both counts.

The Appeals Court has now ruled it was not an irregularity.