accountant in Supreme Court after new evidence came to light.

Jerry Alexander Ming, of Beacon Hill Road, Sandys Parish, was accused of importing more than $35,000 worth of cocaine in an oven on February 2, 1994.

During his nine-day trial, the jury heard how Customs officers found the drugs in a General Electric oven and replaced them with a dummy package.

Throughout the hearing Ming told the court that he often shopped overseas because of better prices and he had no idea how the drug package got into his oven.

But Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade ordered a retrial after the jury reported it was deadlocked after four hours of deliberation.

Mrs. Justice Wade then ordered a retrial in Supreme Court.

Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward discharged Ming after Crown Counsel Mr. Philip Storr said that he had learned of another person associated with the shipment who had a drug conviction.

"The nub of the Crown's case was that there was no opportunity for anyone else to interfere with the goods except the defendant so (Ming) was responsible.

"But there is a link person with an unsavoury character and so I'm unable to say beyond a shadow of a doubt if it was the defendant who is solely responsible.

"I have spoken to the Chief Inspector conducting this case and the Attorney General. Since any doubt should go in favour of the defendant, I am offering no further evidence.'' Before discharging the accused, Mr. Justice Ward said: "So far as I am concerned it isn't enough to be clean because you are in a position of taking leadership and must not only avoid evil but anything that seems to be evil so there is no connection between you and anything that seems to be evil.

"If this had gone against you it will have affected your career and standing in this community for the rest of your life.''