The lawyer for a man accused of a drugs-and-guns conspiracy alleged, yesterday, that his client was slapped in the head by a Police officer during his arrest.

It was further alleged by Charles Richardson that the injury gave Kershun Dublin a "busted ear" that made him too unwell to complete Police interviews.

Dublin, 25, is accused along with Justin Calderon, also 25, and Arthur Dill, 45, of conspiring to possess four handguns and ammunition that were found in a courier box at the airport last April 28. They are further accused of conspiring to import $25,000 worth of cannabis, which was found in the same package.

The men, who are all from Pembroke, deny the charges.

In answer to questions from lawyer Mr. Richardson, Detective Constable Walter Jackson confirmed he was present on the day of Mr. Dublin's arrest in the garage of a residence on St. Monica's Road, last July 13.

The detective said he was not in the garage at the time of the arrest. But, Mr. Richardson asked him: "Are you aware from being present, that any of your colleagues hit or struck Mr. Dublin?"

He replied: "I was aware that a struggle had taken place at the time of Mr. Dublin's arrest."

In answer to further questions, the officer said he entered the garage after his colleague Det. Con. Shannon Swan had arrested Dublin. Asked what was happening at this point, Det. Con. Jackson said: "When I went into the room, Mr. Swan manhandled and held Mr. Dublin." Asked to clarify what he meant, he said he meant that his colleague "handled" Dublin.

The next witness, Customs Officer and Special Constable Roderick Masters, told the court he was present on July 15 when Dublin was interviewed by himself and Det. Con. Swan. Mr. Richardson asked him: "Were you aware at the time you commenced that interview that Mr. Dublin was suffering from a medical condition of a busted eardrum"?

Officer Masters replied: "I do not know the extent of the injury, but I know he had an injury."

Mr. Richardson then asked: "Were you not also aware that that came about as a result of a ringing slap he received from your colleague Mr. Swan?"

Officer Masters replied that he was not aware, and was not present when Dublin was arrested. He confirmed, in answer to further questions from Mr. Richardson, that on the same date, another interview was terminated after Dublin complained his ears were ringing louder and louder. He confirmed that the following morning, another interview was terminated after less than ten minutes because Dublin's ear was bothering him.

Mr. Richardson suggested that Dublin threw up at the end of this interview. Officer Masters said he could not recall this happening, but did not disagree with Mr. Richardson that he'd reported this to the jailor at the time, who noted it in a custody log.

Finally, Mr. Richardson suggested, another interview was conducted with Dublin that afternoon in which he exercised his constitutional right to silence. The officer agreed.

The jury has heard that handguns, drugs and 164 rounds of ammunition were stashed in an orange toolbox that came into Bermuda via a DHL courier package. According to prosecutor Robert Welling, each of the three men became involved in the possession of the package after it was picked up from DHL on May 8 last year. Mr. Welling said the box was dropped by car on Crane Lane, Pembroke, and ended up being "spirited away" by a number of men including the defendants.

Officer Masters yesterday told the jury that the box was found during a Police search on that date, in a storage building next to Calderon's home on Mission Lane. The officer said it was at the back of the shed, covered with a white sheet or cover.

The case continues.