Prosecution off to rough start in Elsie Deras drug trafficking trial; Police forgot to disclose some evidence

Published by BBNTEAM at May 10, 2022

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Posted: Tuesday, May 10, 2022. 7:55 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: Today, the drug trafficking case against 29-year-old, Elsie Deras, got off to a rough start for the prosecution as some evidence was ruled inadmissible in court.

Deras was charged back in 2019 for 259.2 grams (just over a half-pound) of marijuana, which was found in her home during a police search.

While presenting its evidence, the court ruled that an electronic scale that was also found at the house was inadmissible as evidence, because police did not disclose its existence before trial.

The prosecution also called its first witness, Police Corporal Camera Itza, who testified that on August 20, 2019, police had gone to Deras’s home in search of her boyfriend Duesberry Bowen in connection with a shooting that occurred earlier that day. Cpl Itza went on to say that while in the house, they could smell the strong scent of marijuana. Itza said when she inquired about the scent of marijuana, Deras picked up a container that was near the chair she was sitting in and tried to leave.

Officers on the scene reportedly managed to get the container from Deras, and Cpl Itza said that at the time she was being detained, Deras told police ” This is what I need to do to provide for my son.”

Deras’s attorney, Leeroy Banner, refuted the witness’s statement, saying that their account was inaccurate and that police only decided to charge Deras because they could not find who they were looking for.

The trial was adjourned until August 9, 2022 as the crown has two more witnesses to take the stand before the defense could present their case.
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