The commencement of the trial into the alleged cocaine trafficking charge against 64-year-old Maxine Cecelia Batts was yesterday postponed to tomorrow after the court was informed by Prosecutor Stephen Telford that the accused wanted to change her plea.
Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry asked Batts at the George-town Magistrates’ Court whether she wanted to change her plea but the defendant firmly replied “no”, indicating that she wanted to maintain her not-guilty plea. The adjournment to tomorrow was subsequently granted.
Before being dismissed, the defendant asked the acting chief magistrate to be taken back to the New Amsterdam Prison.
“Can I please go back to the prison at Berbice,” Batts begged. “Because I have to sleep on the floor at East La Penitence and it is very painful for me.”
Batts also told the court that unlike the other prisoners, she has no relatives who visit or take food for her.
The magistrate then informed the accused that since she has been granted a short adjournment, she will have to stay at East La Penitence. She, however, ordered the prosecutor to ensure that a full investigation is carried out into the complaints raised by the woman.
Further, the magistrate advised Batts that she will have to use the food provided at the lock-ups as she has no relatives to visit her.
Batts, a US citizen, was placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on January 14 charged with trafficking in nine kilogrammes, 490 grammes of cocaine, which was concealed in the seat and back pouch of her wheelchair.
The wheelchair-bound woman who gave her address as 61 Eastern Parkway, New York City denied the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to her.
