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Crippled granny bursts into tears after sentenced to four years
Sentenced to four years: Maxine Batts
Crippled 65-year-old Maxine Batts, a United States citizen who was charged with cocaine possession, yesterday at approximately 15:01hrs changed her plea after being on remand for several weeks.
Batts, who was represented by defence counsel Mark Waldron, told acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry through her lawyer that she wanted to change her plea. Hence, the Magistrate enquired from the accused if she understood the consequences of her action.
Batts boldly assured the court that she was knowledgeable of the penalty.
The Magistrate then read her the charge and she again told the court that she was culpable of the offence for which she was charged.
With that Magistrate Beharry fined her $30,000 and jailed her for four years. After sentencing, Batts wept bitterly.
Her lawyer, in an invited comment, explained to Kaieteur News the reason for his client’s sudden reversal.
“My client told me that she wanted to change her plea because she was getting more ill due to her frequent court visits” said Waldron.
The prosecution had told the court that on January 11, acting on information received, police intercepted a motor car, #HB 8912, at the Garden of Eden Public Road, East Bank Demerara. The accused was a passenger.
The police conducted a search of the vehicle, and in a motorized wheelchair that the accused had in her possession, they unearthed nine parcels containing rock-like substances suspected to be cocaine, concealed in the back and seat of the said chair. Subsequent tests carried out on the substances found it to be nine and a half kilo grams of cocaine. The vehicle was reportedly transporting the woman to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, at the time of the bust
On Batts’ last appearance, she told the Magistrate that she wished to be sent back to the New Amsterdam prison because of the unhealthy condition at the East La Penitence lock-up.
“My worship I would like to be sent back to the Berbice jail, because where I am staying now has no mattress for me to sleep on and I am not getting anything to eat,” Batts had indicated.
She was however told that due to the early date that was set for her next court appearance, her request could not have been granted
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Telford, during one of the case hearings, indicated to the court that the prosecution was prepared to call several witnesses to testify.
As the preliminary inquiry commenced, only one of those witnesses took to the stand due to Batts’ unexpected change of plea.
Prior to Batts’ sentencing, Telford added that the court should take into consideration the pervasiveness of the offence and institute the maximum penalty to the accused.
On January 14, last, curious onlookers had flocked the courtyard as Batts was lifted by four police ranks into the courtroom to answer to the charge of trafficking in narcotics.
Her address was given to the court as 61 Eastern Parkway, New York City.
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