A 19-year-old was on Friday sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined $53.1 million after she pleaded guilty to trafficking 59 kilogrammes of cannabis, which she claimed was given to her by Anthony Charles called “Skiddle”, who was gunned down close to two weeks ago.
Marlena Emptage of Lot 50 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
She was charged jointly with Yvette Robinson of the said address and Tyriq Gentle of Lot 223 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.
It is alleged that on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, they had in their possession 59 kilogrammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
However, when the matter was called, the charge was withdrawn against Gentle and Robinson after Emptage took full responsibility for the drugs.
“It was given to me by a man name Skiddle to keep. I was paid $100,000. It was never returned to him because he was shot dead,” the unrepresented Emptage told the court on Friday.
Before she was sentenced, Emptage expressed remorse for the crime she committed. “I am sorry for the crime I committed. This will never happen again,” she said.
The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question, CANU ranks went to Emptage’s home, where a search was conducted and they unearthed three barrels of cannabis in her bedroom.
A further search was carried out in other sections of the house including the living room and more parcels of the cannabis were found.
The trio surrendered to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) after wanted bulletins were issued for them on Wednesday.
Charles called ‘Skiddle’, a 33-year-old labourer, was killed in broad daylight on January 9th. At the time, he had just gotten off work as a foreman for drainage works in the Werk-en-Rust area.
He was riddled with 12 bullets including to his neck and forehead.
