Analyn Gatus, a prosecution witness, also said the other samples turned out to be sugar and “a cutting agent for methamphetamine.”
Judge David A. Wiseman, who is presiding over the jury trial of Jing Xin Xiao, 41, earlier ruled Gatus as an expert witness in the area of chemical analysis based on her “education, skills, and training.”
Gatus testified that the samples were sent to the Guam Police Department on Aug. 13 and Aug. 26, 2010.
She took custody of the government evidence on March 4, 2011 and completed a “thorough analysis” on March 9, 2011 in time for the jury trial.
When asked by Assistant Attorney General Russel Lorfing, who is prosecuting the case, why it took several months to run the tests, Gatus said the Guam crime laboratory is also providing services to other law enforcement agencies in the region, including the military.
Assistant Attorney General Peter Prestley is also prosecuting the case.
Gatus also testified that the sealing of the evidence by the local police could not be considered as “sealed” since the evidence was heat-sealed and did not have the initials of the person who sealed it, although it indicated the name of a police officer.
Gatus said Saipan and Guam have “different sealing standards” for pieces of evidence.
Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke, who is counsel for Jing Xin Xiao, opposed the prosecution’s move to bring out evidence that the defense did not have.
When this reporter left the courtroom, Assistant Public Defender Adam Miles, also counsel for the defendant, was cross examining Gatus.
The prosecution intends to present two more witnesses today.
Jing Xin Xiao has denied charges of possession and trafficking of “ice.”
Over 230 grams of “ice” worth $118,250 were seized last April from Jing Xin Xiao, who was on pretrial release after posting $5,000 bail and the remaining $45,000 as unsecured or appearance bond. He was released to a Papago resident as his third party custodian.
