And seemingly acknowledging the difficulty of convicting someone on such charges, Mr. Ward added: "If you don't (serve on juries) we will reach the stage in which judges handle verdicts.'' He added: "That is something which the Bar tries strenuously to avoid.'' During the trial, Steede told the jury he had just finished rolling and smoking a "splif'' in his kitchen when he went to take a shower around 1 p.m.

that day.

He heard noises and glass breaking and hid in the shower. Steede also claimed that he wanted to see objects Police found in the pipe when he was roughed up.

He denied he was trying to kick a prone Policewoman as she reached into a four inch plastic pipe to retrieve a package visible through a vent.

And Steede said he believed several other tenants were at home in the five apartment building and flushed while Police were on the property.

Six officers said they entered the home to find Steede clothed in a shower with the toilet re-filling.

A Police dog searched the apartment, stopped in front of Steede, and indicated there was a smell of cannabis, cocaine, or heroin on the defendant's hands. A further flush of Steede's toilet forced through a second package of cannabis and Police claimed Steede aimed a kick at P.c. Jurine Smith as she fished out the drugs.

Steede said Police kept him away from seeing the drugs in place by forcing him against a wall and jamming his arm in the air.

He told the court: "I was not trying to hit out at anybody. If I had tried to kick her why would that lady (P.c. Smith) come and treat my injuries?''