However the defence jurist championing Roque indicated he testament attack to lob question on who owned the cocaine in the automobile and another weight of cocaine in Roque's apartment, which policewomen said had an estimated thoroughfare reward of bounteous than $3 million.

Yesterday was the head period of the evaluation representing Roque, 46, of Methuen, who is charged with two enumerate of trafficking cocaine above 200 grams and cabal to contravene narcotic ordinance in connexion with the Sept 2006 incident.

In his breach statement, Helpmeet Community Attorney Michael Hickey told the jury of eight men and six women they would listen to proof and inspect support showing Roque returned the minivan to the Parsimonious van rental medium on South Junction Street. The motorcar was rented for three days, and Roque is accused of leaving two boxes containing 46 hammer of cocaine interior the vehicle.

The cocaine was discovered alongside rental means wage-earner the date after the machine was returned with 2,300 else miles on the odometer. The car had been rented beside a codefendant in the case, Nicole Paquette, 32, of 64 5th Ave., Haverhill - a mum of four - with her faith card, Hickey said.

She had rented a conveyance from the instrumentality on eight other moment during the year previous the arrests, and those conveyance travelled 17,000 miles at a payment to her of $11,300, Hickey said. Paquette was convicted of trafficking cocaine upon 200 grams and scheme to disregard drug act and was sentenced in Feb to 15 senility in prison. Both Paquette and Roque were arrested Sept. 12, 2006. Hickey linked to the jury how the interrogation finally led them to Roque's 50 Glen Ave.

Methuen, where, after his arrest, constabulary hand-me-down keys entranced from him to accrual entry. Before investigators obtained a warrant, they institute an fresh 66 beats of cocaine and packaging fabric in a bedroom. In his break statement, defense lawyer John Cicilline said, "Opening declaration further bear your carefulness to what outgoing we esteem are in dispute. No dispute. Thirty another keys.

No dispute." What is in dilemma is who owned those 50 kilograms. Who would apply control and dominion on those kilograms," Cicilline said.

He implored the jury colleague to apply their average thought and life's background to lift them decide, in the end, if the prosecution had established its context so forcefully that they be required to gem Roque guilty. Lawrence Cid man Robert Lefebre, of the avenue narcotics enforcement unit, described an earlier sojourn to Leo's Cocktail lounge on Essex Street, erstwhile to the confiscating of the cocaine, where Roque identified himself as the manager.

He spoke with Lt. Shawn Conway for five or 10 before you can say 'jack robinson' already the office-bearer left. Beneath rood examination, Lefebre agreed the end of the call had fly speck to determine with narcotics, and that no solitary had been arrested during the visit. The boxes containing the cocaine fashion in the minivan were alcohol boxes which had lodging mark for Leo's Pub, 567 Essex St.,

Private investigator Angel Mejia testified approximately receiving the phone from the vehivle rental agency alerting policemen to the proximity of the cocaine. He told the court he went to the agency and was shown the minivan, which had been stored in a fenced-in yard after it had been returned next to Roque.

Over it was accelerated to closing time, the minivan was not examined until the hard by day, when the cocaine was found, Mejia said. Questioned close to Cicilline, Mejia said the vehivle was stored heart a fenced-in sphere and the enclosure was about 10 feet high, nevertheless the van itself was not locked.

From http://eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_127234801.html