US citizen Maxine Cecelia Batts, 64, was yesterday sentenced to a four jail term after changing her plea and admitting to a cocaine trafficking charge.
Attorney law Mark Waldron, who represented Batts, told acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that his client wanted to change her not guilty plea.
The matter was fixed for continuation of the trial yesterday.
Batts, of 61 Eastern Parkway, New York City was placed before the court on January 14, charged with possession of nine kilograms and 490 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The substance was found in the seat and back pouch of her wheelchair.
Up until yesterday, Batts had always maintained her innocence.
The prosecution’s facts were that police, acting on certain information received, intercepted motor car HB 8912, at Garden of Eden, East Bank of Demerara, and they uncovered nine parcels of powdery substance believed to be cocaine.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey had related to the court that it was concealed in the seat and back pouch of the woman’s motorised wheelchair.
Harvey said that the accused and the substance were then taken to the Criminal Investigations Department, where the substance was examined, tested and amounted to the quantity of cocaine mentioned in the charge.
