A 28-year-old Southampton man pleaded not guilty to possession of two guns and cannabis within 300 metres of a preschool.

In the monthly arraignment session yesterday, Jason Kenneth Wheatley, of Rose Hill, Southampton, pleaded not guilty to two charges of possession of cannabis with intent to supply and two counts of possession of drug equipment, all within an increased penalty zone.

The alleged drug offences happened on April 18 last year within 300 metres of Lyceum Preschool on Wilkinson Avenue, Hamilton.

Yesterday, Wheatley also pleaded not guilty to possession of a Dan Wesson .357 gun, four charges of possession of ammunition and possession of a .32 revolver.

He appeared alongside Suzi Paula Moniz Raposo, 22, of Middle Reach, Pembroke, who pleaded not guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of drug equipment with intent to supply in an increased penalty zone.

Raposo was also charged and pleaded not guilty to allowing drug activity to take place in her home from a date unknown until April 18, this year.

Wheatley will remain in custody and Raposo's bail was extended until both will appear in Supreme Court for arraignments on January 5, next year.

Harold Earlston Simons, who is charged with causing the death of American visitor Martha Hoopes on March 24 with dangerous driving this year, pleaded not guilty when he appeared yesterday.

Simons also pleaded not guilty to causing injury to Mrs. Hoopes' daughter, Ashley, by dangerous driving and he will appear for trial on March 9, next year. His bail was extended.

Mother-of-three, Wendy Ingemann, 37, who was convicted last month of permanently scarring Tanya Darrell by glassing her in the face will be sentenced on December 18 and she remains in custody.

Yesterday Terrence Smith, who is accused of defrauding the Bermuda Housing Corporation, was given a trial date.

Robert Welling, for the prosecution, and Philip Perinchief, who was standing in for Llewellyn Peniston, set a tentative date of April 6 next year.

Smith's bail was extended and the case will be mentioned in the next arraignment session for confirmation of the date.

Also in arraignment's yesterday, Goodwin Davano Spencer, a businessman who was found guilty of 11 charges of money laundering totalling more than $145,000 last month was set for sentencing on December 19.

The offences, involving profits from drug trafficking on the part of another man, were committed from November 2004 to November 2005.

Spencer, 40, of Loyal Hill Road, Devonshire, runs Tuff Shoes and Mega Power Car Care Products, from his Court Street business premises. He is also a concert promoter.

Yesterday, Spencer also pleaded not guilty to possession of cannabis on November 29, 2005 and to conspiracy to supply, with persons unknown, between date unknown and November 29, 2005.

The trial for Spencer's drug charges was scheduled for January 26.

Reuben Mayho, 47, who lives on a private boat off St. George's, pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to John Petty on July 3 this year and his trial is set for March 23 next year with his bail extended.

And Anthony Webster Swan, 48, of Wilson Place, Sandys, pleaded not guilty to two charges of burglary at a Rubber Tree Lane home and one charge of going equipped for stealing, with a pair of black gloves, and prowling.

His bail was extended to appear in the next arraignment session.

While Donald Henry Lowrie, 44 of Hollywood, Florida, was charged with importing cannabis resin and cocaine on October, 3 this year, as well as two counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges and will appear for trial on January 19, while a mention in January's arraignment session will solidify the date.

Randolph Thaddeus Richardson, 41, of Glebe Road, Pembroke pleaded not guilty to importing cannabis and importing with intent to supply on April 30 this year.

His trial was set for February 9 next year, his bail was extended. And Patrick Anthony Howe, a Canadian national will start his trial on December 8 for allegedly importing the drugs methamphetamine and ketamine on July 7, 2008.

At the end of the session yesterday Chief Justice Richard Ground praised the courts for managing to lower the number of cases held over this year.

He added: "We will be below 20 in the new year. That puts us in a slightly better position then we were in last year. Last year we entered January with 22."