An elderly woman who admitted to having an alcohol addiction problem found herself in the drug court programme after pleading guilty in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court to destroying her niece’s property while under the influence of alcohol.

Rema Marks pleaded guilty to setting a lamp on fire while staying at her niece’s house earlier this year. When questioned by the clerk of the court, the senior citizen admitted to having a drinking problem. Marks also admitted that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Marks’ niece told presiding magistrate Judith Pusey that she did not want her aunt sent to prison. She said she wanted her placed in a rehabilitation facility.

“It’s not about the lamp, or the table [on which the lamp rested]. She lit something in the house. and probably if I wasn’t there the house would have burned down,” she said.

“I think she needs help, some kind of rehab your honour,” said Marks’ niece.

Although acknowledging that Marks needed help, Pusey was uncertain as to what course of action could be taken to assist the senior citizen. After being reminded of the drug court programme, however, Pusey opted to refer Marks there.

But Pusey warned Marks that the drug court would not help her unless she truly wanted the help. When asked if she wanted to quit her addiction to alcohol, Marks replied, “I have to”.

Muttering to herself in the dock, Marks blamed the devil for her actions at her niece’s house.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It was the devil you know, just the devil,” she said.

The drug court programme was introduced to take the pressure off the prisons by focusing on rehabilitating adult and juvenile substance abusers through extensive supervision and treatment, instead of incarcerating them for possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or even for crimes committed under the influence of drugs.

Once an addict admits to a substance abuse and is deemed eligible to participate in the drug court programme, he or she is assigned to one of two court rehabilitation centres, located at the Maxfield Park Health Centre in Kingston and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St James.