On day three of the trial of Anthony Michael Clamens, who stands accused of importing heroin with a street value of $1.48 million, defence counsel Larry Mussenden challenged Police testimony that Clamens had sped away from them.

Clamens has been charged with importation, possession, and handling the drugs with intent to supply in relation to a courier package that arrived on the Island August 19, 1999 from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Clamens is one of three men allegedly involved in the drug ring of which one man, Sharif Boyd Taylor, 24, of Aubrey Road, Hamilton Parish, has already been imprisoned for eight years.

Earlier in the week, the court heard that the drugs were concealed in six of 13 bottles of facial cleanser and shipped in a box addressed to Leonard Swan of Cottage Hill Road.

Acting Det. Sgt. Adrian Cook yesterday told the court that he was a narcotics officer involved in the investigation and was stationed across from the Hamilton DHL office when Clamens left the courier company on August 23 carrying the dummy package Police had created after discovering the illicit drugs.

He also confirmed earlier testimony by Customs Officer Timothy Hayward who claimed another man, Luke Hill, was hiding in the area when Clamens retrieved the package.

Det. Sgt. Cook said that he followed Clamens, who mounted a motorcycle and rode out of Hamilton.

He said it had been difficult to keep up with Clamens who picked up speed as he travelled out of the city and onto Palmetto Road.

He also said Clamens "pulled away" from him as they travelled eastward causing him to lose sight of him at times. He said Clamens had reached the junction of Palmetto Road and Frog Lane when he saw that Clamens had been stopped by an unmarked Police car.

During cross examination Mr. Mussenden suggested that his client's speeding did not indicate guilt.

"People speed on those stretches of roads all the time, don't they? Particularly 22-year-olds," he said.

Mr. Mussenden also wondered how Det. Sgt. Cook could claim that his client "pulled away" from the officer when he never made himself known to Clamens.

Inspector James Howard who was the officer in the unmarked car, took the stand next and said that Clamens tried to ride past officers who pulled into the eastbound lane to stop him.

Inspector Howard told the court that he got out of the police car and motioned to Clamens to stop, but that Clamens rode on the curb-side of the unmarked car, struck the curb, and fell off his cycle.

Mr. Mussenden suggested that Clamens was not asked to stop, but that the officers "ploughed" into him with the car.

The trial, which began on Tuesday, continues today.