ST JAMES, Jamaica — The trial of Sheena Headley, who was arrested in June 2022 following the discovery of approximately $85-million worth of cocaine at her home, has been rescheduled for April 12.

The trial, which was scheduled to continue in the St James Parish Court on Friday, was postponed because her attorney, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, was absent due to having a case in the Supreme Court.

“Counsel [Champagnie] did reach out to me yesterday, and he indicated that there is a matter in the Supreme Court that was set as a priority matter for his submissions. As a result, he is regrettably and unavoidably absent,” the clerk of the court told presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley.

It was also revealed that another lawyer was supposed to appear in court to represent Headley in Champagnie’s absence, but the court was unable to determine who was the substitute attorney.

Judge Smith-Ashley then granted Headley permission to leave the courtroom momentarily to communicate with Champagnie’s office regarding a potential date for the trial to continue. The need for this communication arose as the attorney had not yet suggested any dates for the continuation of the proceedings.

After a brief absence, Headley returned to the courtroom, and it was agreed that April 12 would be the ideal date for Champagnie to appear in court so that the case could proceed. Consequently, Smith-Ashley extended Headley’s bail until April 12.

The allegations are that on June 15, 2022, about 6:00 pm, a team of officers from the Area One Narcotics Police Division carried out an operation at Headley’s home in Goodwill, St James. During the search, 10 rectangular-shaped packages were found in the trunk of a Toyota Prado SUV belonging to Headley.

The packages were subsequently identified as cocaine weighing approximately 25 pounds, and following an interview session in the presence of her lawyer, Headley was arrested and charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

During the same operation, approximately 90 exotic birds and other wildlife were discovered on the property, in violation of both the Wildlife Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Chad Headley, Sheena Headley’s husband, pleaded guilty to two breaches of each Act and was fined $50,000 on October 11, 2022.

Sheena Headley was also charged in relation to the exotic birds, but those charges were eventually dropped. Similarly, Chad Headley was charged in relation to the alleged cocaine seizure, but he was later cleared of the charges.