NEW YORK, USA — US Federal Judge Robert P Patterson yesterday set November 16 for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke’s next court appearance when the former Tivoli Gardens don appeared in a Manhattan court.
But the most significant development at yesterday’s appearance was the bolstering of Coke’s defence team with high-profile attorneys Frank Doddato and Steve Rosen.
They now join two other prominent attorneys — Steve Zissou and Elizabeth Macedonio, who were hired last month.
Coke appeared in good spirits, although one of his attorneys described as “uncivilised”, the conditions under which Coke has been held for over two months.
The accused drug lord has been in custody here since June after he waived his right to an extradition hearing in Kingston on drugs and weapons charges.
Meanwhile, reports of new documents emerging under seal in respect of the charges against Coke seem to relate to a request which was made for a private investigator to be retained on his behalf.
A source close to the case told the Observer that problems arose over the issue, as money to hire the investigator would have to be borne by the US Government, since Coke’s assets have been frozen by the Jamaican Government.
With the addition of the two new attorneys, this matter seems to have been settled.
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