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Chico Slimani Pleads Not Guilty in Drink-Driving Case, Trial Set for April 9

His lawyers plan expert review of a reading they say was affected by cough medicine, recorded just above the legal threshold.

Overview

  • Slimani, 54, appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court and was granted unconditional bail for a four-hour trial listing.
  • Prosecutors said he was stopped on December 13 on Chase Way in north London while driving a Vauxhall Astra and returned a 40mcg breath reading against a 35mcg limit.
  • Defence counsel Sarah King told the bench he had taken cough medicine before testing, which she argued can skew breathalyser results.
  • King questioned partially completed police paperwork and said that if medication was raised officers should have used a blood or urine test.
  • The defence said it will instruct a toxicologist and call his wife, Daniyela Rakic, as a witness, and noted the 40mcg figure is, by their account, just above what is usually prosecuted.