Lawyer’s ill-health plea fails to move judge
Western Bureau: Her lawyer’s claim that she was not in the best of health and his plea for a lesser custodial sentence could not save Briton Isis Constantine from a $351,000 fine and six months jail time when she appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s court, on Thursday. The 22-year-old care nurse for the elderly appeared before the court after she was charged with attempting to export 63 pounds of ganja.
On July 31, Constantine was an outgoing British Airways passenger destined for London when she was caught at the Sangster International Airport with the drugs. It was concealed inside bammies that were placed inside her suitcases.
She was later arrested and charged for possession of, dealing in and attempting to export ganja.
In his appeal for leniency, her attorney, George Thomas, charged that his client suffered from sickle cell disease, asthma, and a defective kidney. He also urged the court to take into account the fact that she had been in custody for the past month.
“I suspect the one month in jail has been a sobering moment for her your honour. I’m going to ask that you be as lenient as you can possibly can,” Thomas said.
Having heard Thomas’ appeal for mercy for his client, judge Valerie Stephens said she would consider his submission and also factor in his client’s youth. But she said the large quantity of the drug Constantine was found with had warranted a custodial sentence.
For possession of the drug, Constantine was fined $15,000 or six months. For dealing in the drug, she was fined $96,000 or six months; and for attempting to export it, she was fined $240,000 or six months and sentenced to a mandatory six months in prison.