A defendant charged with possessing drugs told a court that he had no idea of the contents of the package.

Michael Euguene Parsons has pleaded not guilty to handling $22,250 of cocaine in an increased penalty zone with intent to supply on October 6, 2005.

Parsons is represented by defence lawyer Craig Attridge while Robert Welling is for the Crown.

The Crown alleges Parsons - a former DHL courier - dropped off a package containing cocaine at QuoVadis Ltd. addressed to someone who didn’t work there and came back the next day to pick it up.

Parsons took the stand telling the Supreme Court jury that on October 5, 2005, he delivered a package to QuoVadis Ltd. and the secretary signed for it. He wasn’t sure if payment was due and said he would check on it.

He said when he got to the office after completing his route, there was a problem with downloading his scanner. Parsons said some of the couriers assisted him but they couldn’t fix the problem. At that time he said he noticed the package for QuoVadis didn’t come up on the scanner and figured it could be a COD (cash on delivery) issue.

He said he left his office soon after and went to football training. After training, Parsons said he reached his house at about 9.30 p.m. and that was the last time he remembers seeing his cell phone. He said he was at a neighbour’s home when an alleged phone call to New Jersey was made.

The next day, he said he called QuoVadis and inquired about the account number of the package. He ran from his office on Church Street to QuoVadis after the conversation.

Parsons said when he got back to his job, he was helping unloading packages when a call came from QuoVadis and he went to check the package.

Parsons said he was handed him the package and he went back to look at the account number and to see whether or not there was a COD on the package.

He said a Police officer came behind him and asked what he was doing. He explained he was doing his job and told him someone had sent him for the package. He told the court that wasn’t true.

“At the time, I was shocked. I was scared. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. My mind was all over the place. I was like why did you arrest me? What have I done wrong? I was in that frame of mine. It wasn’t a good day.”

During cross-examination, Mr. Welling asked Parsons how much he would be paid for delivering packages. He said he would get a regular pay cheque from his job. Mr. Welling then asked how much he would be paid for drug packages and he shrugged.

Mr. Welling also suggested the defendant was lying to the jury about filling out paperwork when he arrived at QuoVadis. He suggested he was fiddling with his clipboard out of nerves. Parsons disagreed.

Mr. Welling also suggested that the problem with the COD could have be solved if Parsons had looked at the airway bill on the package. When it came to the phone call made to a New Jersey, Mr. Welling asked if a friend or family member made the call but Parsons couldn’t recall.

“You contacted New Jersey that evening because you wanted to tell them that there had been a problem. And when you didn’t reach them, you realised you had to get the package back.”

The defendant disagreed with the suggestion.

The trial is expected to finish today.