The trial of an accused Jamaican drug runner has been delayed indefinitely because the defendant believes a witch doctor placed a hex on him, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday.
Royland Otto Byfield, 28, Kingston, Jamaica, "claimed he could not go to trial because a spell had been placed on him," said Heather Nelson, assistant U.S. attorney for Utah. "He says he's from a place where bad luck spells are common and he apparently believes in this. We've ordered a psychological evaluation before rescheduling his trial."Byfield is charged in a Utah federal grand jury indictment, dated Dec. 7, 1988, with possession of 7 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, and with three counts of carrying a firearm in a drug trafficking crime.
When Byfield was arrested Nov. 15, officers seized a 9mm semi-automatic carbine rifle, a .38-caliber revolver and .22-caliber revolver.