BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FORMER Postman Denzil Huggins was unanimously found guilty at the Basseterre High Court yesterday (Nov. 5) for detaining of post letters; an offence he committed between April 1, 2006 and May 31, 2007.
Huggins was charged with neglecting or refusing to deliver some 794 post letters to their respective owners.
He was responsible for distributing mail in District one area, three which include the areas from Wigley Avenue in St. Johnson Village to Camps as well as La Guerite, Lime Kiln and Cayon Street.
According to the facts of the case, during the period of time in question, Huggins failed to deliver 794 post letters which were found unopened in his home when searched by police officers under a search warrant.
The trial began last Wednesday (Oct. 31) and a number of persons took the stand, including Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Carl Herbert who testified that during the said time the organisation did not receive any mails.
Also giving evidence were Postmaster General Sandra Davoren, who explained the duties of a post man; and a supervisor at the post office, Annette Paul, who clarified the responsibility of postal delivery persons to return all undelivered mail to the post office.
The investigating officers in the matter also gave evidence on behalf of the prosecution.
In his summation, Resident Judge His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas told the jury that they need not be concerned over whether or not any of the mails were opened, as it was not the focus of the trial but rather whether he neglected or refused to deliver the post mails.
The 12-member jury, after deliberation, brought back a unanimous guilty verdict.
