Fisherman found not guilty

Thursday 4th March 2010, 2:58PM GMT.

The Royal Court building where the trial was heard

The trial was heard in the Royal Court

A JERSEY fisherman has been cleared of conspiring to import heroin into the Island on his fishing boat.

Gregory Brian Eagle, of Queen’s Road, broke down as the not guilty verdict was announced in the Royal Court yesterday.

The 32-year-old, who has one of the Island’s largest fishing trawlers, repeatedly protested his innocence throughout the three-day trial, saying he had been set up by the three people at the heart of the plot, which was hatched between 30 June and 4 July 2008.

At earlier court hearings, Matthew Burrow, Helia Da Silva, and Antonio Ramalho had all admitted their parts in the conspiracy, which involved 25 grams of the drug being bought in the UK and then transported to Jersey via France, the Assize jury had been told.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.