Drug trial of Dutch truck driver collapses

The trial of Dutch truck driver accused of attempting to import €5.6m of heroin hidden in a shipment of flowers has collapsed following problems with the evidence.

Jan Stuurmann (aged 40) of Curran Ard, Athy in Kildare had pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing and importing the drugs with another truck driver at a customs warehouse on Castleforbes Road, Dublin 1 on December 16, 2008.

The case has been put back until next week when a new trial date will be set.

Judge Desmond Hogan told the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that over the course of legal argument it emerged that some evidence still had to be disclosed to the defence side.

He said until the defence receives this evidence a trial cannot proceed.

He thanked the jury for their time and remanded Stuurmann on bail to appear again next week.