A six-woman, five-man Supreme Court jury took just under two hours yesterday to convict two men of conspiring to import cocaine and other related offences.

Lang Onley, 40, of 12 Harvest Lane, Hamilton Parish and Richard Ricardo Steede, 39, of 12 Kitty's Lane, Hamilton Parish were convicted unanimously for conspiring to import more than a pound of cocaine, with a street value of $138,000, and importing 13.9 grams of cannabis.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of possession of cocaine for Steede by a six-to-five majority, and found Onley guilty of the same charge by a majority of nine to two.

Steede was also found guilty of handling cocaine with intent to supply and simple possession of cannabis.

The jury heard during the two-week trial that 16 cocaine-laced golf clubs arrived at the Bermuda International Airport by Federal Express between March 28 and 31, last year. The golf clubs were shipped to Mid Ocean Club to be collected by Onley who was employed there as a caddie.

Onley's lawyer, Mark Pettingill, was absent when the verdicts were delivered.

But lawyer Richard Hector, who represented Steede, yesterday told The Royal Gazette the verdicts were strange.

Mr. Hector said the verdicts were confusing and may be inconsistent. This, he said, may indicate some confusion on the part of the jurors.

He said he will await his client's instructions as to whether to appeal.

Crown counsel Peter Eccles said he was glad the drug trial was over and finally resolved after all the difficulties.

At the beginning of the trial, the court learned a juror was seen communicating with Steede. Lawyers could not agree on whether to proceed with 11 jurors. The jury was discharged and another panel selected.

Then a female juror fell ill and the trial was delayed for about a day and a half. When the sick juror returned another juror had to leave because she had prior obligations. All this was punctuated with frequent interruptions for legal arguments.

Mr. Eccles, who was assisted by student Lee DeRosa Holder, said it was a tough case for the jury after being away for a few days but they hung in there.

Steede and Onley are to be sentenced tomorrow (FRI) by Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller.

Duck! Richard Ricardo Steede ducks to avoid having his photo taken.