Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 06/02) - Several suspects arrested on drug trafficking charges following the RCMP undercover investigation Project Getaway are still awaiting their day in court.

Six Yellowknife residents, two Edmonton men and four people from Inuvik are still awaiting trial to answer to cocaine trafficking charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

"Some have been dealt with but we still haven't had a full-blown trial yet," said Scott Niblock, the Crown prosecutor dealing with the Project Getaway cases.

Last month, Edmonton residents Stanley Paul Pestano, 21, and Pierre Escalona, 18, both waived their preliminary hearing in territorial court. They face two counts each of trafficking cocaine.

Niblock said the two will appear in Supreme Court Dec. 5 for the next mass scheduling of criminal court trial dates.

Also scheduled to set trial dates on Dec. 5 are Dayl Hein, 34; Long Huynh, 26; and Fred McDonald, 53. Niblock said Fred McDonald, charged with one count of trafficking cocaine, failed to appear for his preliminary hearing. The hearing went ahead without him, however, and he will also stand trial in Supreme Court at a date yet to be set.

Peter Pagonis, 38, was ordered to stand trial on three counts of trafficking cocaine after a preliminary hearing and will be scheduled for trial in December.

Daisey Posegate will appear in territorial court Dec. 11 for her preliminary hearing where a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.

Four Inuvik residents are scheduled to appear in Inuvik territorial court for either a preliminary hearing or trial between Dec. 17 and 19. They are Lenny Blake, 29; Pat Greenland, 19; Justin Simms, 24; and Robert Ross, 34.

To date three people have been sentenced for charges related to Project Getaway.

Two counts of trafficking cocaine against Mary Ann Laboucane have been stayed by the crown since a few days after her arrest. Niblock said he believes those charges will soon be dropped.