A man on trial for smuggling liquid cocaine into Bermuda admitted in court yesterday that he lied numerous times in police interviews.

Clifton Hopeton Morrison, 38, of St. Ann's Parish, Jamaica said he was aiming to mislead the Police.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus, during cross-examination, drew Morrison's attention to a statement he made to Police in which he said he purchased the cocaine-laced rum from an airport in Jamaica as a gift for Kathy Tait.

Morrison told Ms Bacchus he lied to Det. Con. Dennis Astwood when he said he met Kathy Tait at a church convention in Jamaica. He said he signed the Police statement even though he knew what he told the officer was not the truth.

Morrison said he was trying to mislead the Police.

He said he told Police the bottles were his because he was relying on information from the Jamaican man he contracted with called Jaba.

During the trial, he told the court he was offered $3,000 by Jabba to bring the rum bottles to Bermuda and was to collect some money for Jabba on his arrival here from Ms. Tait. He said he had financial woes at home and agreed to deliver the bottles for a total of $5,000.

The court heard Morrison only knew Jabba for six months prior to the deal to transport the rum bottles for money. Also, the two men met at several times to finalise the deal.

Morrison, who is originally from Kingston, denies possession of cocaine with intent to supply, importing cocaine, and an alternative charge of knowingly handling cocaine.

He said he also lied when he told a Customs official he was staying with friends in Bermuda, and suggested he was staying with Ms Tait.

Morrison accused Det. Con. Astwood of not telling him he was arrested.

However, the court heard he signed the notes relating to the case, he was cautioned before arrest, and was issued a form telling him of his rights at the Airport Police station.

The father of three told the Police he purchased a jacket in New York. He said later under cross-examination he called the shirt he was wearing a jacket.

Ms Bacchus told the court Morrison made a statement in which he confessed he was sorry for the embarrassment he had caused his family in Jamaica. She said he told Police he wanted to get it off his chest.

The accused now claims that the Police promised him `a small smack on the wrist' if he co-operated.

The court also heard Morrison had been on the Island since February and had spoken to a lawyer but had not made any complaint of ill treatment until now.

Ms Bacchus argued the defence was trying to cloud the real issue by saying the officer in the case acted improperly. The officer, she said, allowed Morrison out of the cell for an extended time, offered him water, and took a break when Morrison wanted to continue the interviews.

She said Morrison was curious about the contents of the rum bottles.

In her summing up to the jury, Ms Bacchus later told the court Morrison had turned a blind eye to the risk of carrying the liquid cocaine for personal gain of $5,000.

She said Morrison suspected and asked the man he contracted with if cocaine was in the rum bottles. He went into a duty-free shop at the airport in Jamaica to compare the bottles, and he checked the seals on the rum bottles, she added.

Ms Bacchus said Morrison was not credible. His lies were convenient, and he had an explanation for everything.

Defence Lawyer Victoria Pearman, who is representing Morrison, said the fact her client looked at the bottles did not mean he was suspicious of the contents. Ms. Pearman said lying is not a crime.

"I tell some lies too,'' said Ms. Pearman. "I myself lied to customs because I do not want them poking into my business.'' The lawyer said what is important is that a person does not lie in court under oath.

Ms. Pearman said her client may be guilty of being stupid but that was no offence.

She said even the expert witnesses said the bottles containing the liquid cocaine appeared to be rum at first sight.

Following Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller's summing up today, the jury is likely to be sent out to deliberate.