Court hearing reveals new details on Mikus Alps case

Two men have been jailed for 18 months each for drugs offences, in a hearing that has also revealed new details surrounding the death of Latvian Mikus Alps earlier this year.

Neil MacDonald (39) and Jack Falla (31) both appeared at the Royal Court today.

MacDonald faced three charges relating to the possession of a shotgun, a 'sawn-off' shotgun and ammunition, as well as two drugs offences - possession of the class A drug LSD, and the supply of class B cannabis resin.

Falla faced only one charge, that of supplying cannabis.

Those offences came to the police's attention in January as they were conducting what was, at the time, a missing persons inquiry.

A vehicle belonging to Mikus Alps had been discovered burnt out on January 10th at a secluded spot among the trees at Petit Bot on the south coast.

Police went to the home of Neil MacDonald who was a close friend of Mr Alps.

There they learned that a few days earlier, Mr Alps had asked MacDonald to retrieve two bags from a lock-box, telling MacDonald that the bags were 'clean' but needed to be moved.

MacDonald showed the police the bags, which he was keeping in the boot of a car.

When they searched the bags, they discovered the weapons. The court heard how it was also then that MacDonald first realised what the bags contained.

Police investigated further and seized MacDonald's phone. A series of messages on the phone revealed that MacDonald and Falla were involved in the supply of 150 grams of cannabis resin.

Details of MacDonald's police interview were also heard in court which described Mikas Alps' frame of mind in the days before he died.

He told police that Mr Alps had been afraid that he was being followed, that his car had been targeted with graffiti in a way that he thought was meant to convey a threat, and how he had talked about leaving the island.

Mr Alps had been previously to Ukraine to support anti-Russian militia there.

Guernsey Police have throughout their investigation into the death of Mr Alps urged against speculation.

Their latest update, last month, said they were still awaiting the results of a second post-mortem, after the first proved inconclusive.