(Jamaica Gleaner) Federal judge Robert P. Patterson has granted a request for a postponement in the sentencing of confessed Jamaican drug baron Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
“Application for an adjournment of sentencing is granted, but the date will have to be earlier,” the order from the judge said.
“The Court does not want a sentence date on which defense counsel is engaged in another case. Counsel for the government and defense are to advise the Court by January 13, 2012 as to proposed dates for sentences,” read the order from Judge Patterson which was made on Wednesday.
Coke was due to be sentenced next Tuesday but his attorney filed an application in court this week seeking to have the sentencing date postponed for a second time.
The confessed Jamaican drug lord faces up to 23 years in federal prison. He was originally set for sentencing on December 8 but his attorney had requested a postponement.
Coke confessed to racketeering conspiracy in the US and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering last year.
Coke was extradited in June 2010 following a near one-year stand-off between then Bruce Golding-led government and the US.
Then Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne refused to sign the authority to proceed against Coke, saying his constitutional rights were being breached.
Golding’s JLP then engaged US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in a bid to lobby the US government on the matter.
However, under public pressure, Lightbourne signed the authority to proceed against Coke. That was to lead to a stand-off between men loyal to Coke and members of the security forces. A bloody battle in Tivoli led to the deaths of more than 70 people.
Coke went into hiding and was captured, allegedly disguised with a woman’s wig, in the company of clergyman Al Miller. He waived his right to fight his extradition to the US and has been awaiting trial and sentencing since.
