A DHL courier allegedly dropped off a package containing drugs and came back to pick it up the next day, a Supreme Court jury heard.

Michael Euguene Parsons has pleaded not guilty to handling $22,000 worth of cocaine in an increased penalty zone with the intent to supply on October 6, 2005.

Parsons is represented by defence lawyer Craig Attridge while Robert Welling is for the crown. The first witness — Steven Davidson — is the Vice President of QuoVadis Ltd., the company where the package was allegedly delivered.

He explained to the court that Parsons was their regular courier and on October 5, 2005, the delivery was normal.

“There was a package that arrived correctly addressed to us but it had the name of and unknown person — Steven Paymei — on it,” he told the court.

Mr. Davidson explained he had a discussion with a colleague to figure out what to do with the package but they decided to keep it. He said he opened the package and it contained a slim binder with technical documentation for Microsoft Software. He also explained that sometimes the company receives similar packages from unknown sources so it wasn’t a surprise.

“I glanced at it to see what they were sending me. I read over a copy of pages and it was not the type of subject matter they would send me. That’s when I thought it was unusual,” he said.

Mr. Davidson told the court that it appeared that the papers had been taken from a large binder and put into the smaller one because the information began on page 19. He said he also noticed the binder was lumpy and saw an incision made in one of the pockets where the drugs were located. “I called a person I know in the Police and asked for advice on what to do and as a result of that they responded quite quickly.”

Mr. Davidson told the court the next day he came into the office early because he was prepping for a meeting. Soon after, Parsons came in to the office straight to his desk.

He said: “I was stunned, extremely surprised that anyone would come looking for the package realising now that something was very wrong with it. I was taken aback.”

The witness explained he was nervous when Parson came back. He said the defendant told him there was a problem with the account number on the package and his supervisor sent him to retrieve it. Mr. Davidson said he told him the package was at another office.

He told the court that Parsons wrote down a DHL number very nervously so that Mr. Davidson could contact him.

The next witness for the crown, Kimya Talbot told the court a similar story to Mr. Davidson. She confirmed Parsons was the courier and appeared very normal when he delivered the package that day.

Ms Talbot told the court that Police officers arrived at QuoVadis early the next morning before Parsons came back to pick up the package. She said they gave her the package just in case he wanted it back.

Ms Talbot said the defendant entered the officer, put his paperwork on the table and took a seat. She said he approached her desk and asked for the package. The witness said she gave it to him then the Police came and arrested him.

Walter Cook, the Chief Security Officer at QuoVadis said he doesn’t remember anything from October 5, but remembers events the following day.

He told the court he called the dispatch number for DHL and asked to speak to Mikie.

“I was put on hold then a voice came on and said ‘Yeap’. I asked, ‘Is this Mikie’ and he said ‘Yeap’. I said, ‘The package that was accidentally delivered to QuoVadis is back and ready to be picked up’. He said, ‘Yeap’.

Mr. Cook said he saw Parsons in the officer shortly after the telephone conversation with him. He said Parson was at Ms Talbot’s desk where he picked up the package and was arrested soon after.

The witness told the court Parson’s demeanour was odd. He said he was very anxious and his arms and hands were shaking.

The crown continues its case today before Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.