Wheelchair cocaine bust…
THE sexagenarian woman, who was remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge last month, will have to remain incarcerated for a longer period. Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sent United States (U.S.) citizen Maxine Butts on further remand yesterday after the Prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said he was not prepared because he was made aware that the defendant wanted to change her plea.
However, the 65-year-old resident of Lot 61 Eastern Parkway, New York City, said she is maintaining that she is not guilty and the Prosecutor requested a date to commence the proceedings.
The Magistrate said she will not be entertaining any more applications for adjournment and set tomorrow for the start.
Butts asked to be sent back to New Amsterdam Prison and not East La Penitence Police Station lock-ups, claiming that, in the latter, she had to sleep on the floor and got nothing to eat.
The magistrate observed, though, that, as the adjournment is for a short period, the police will not take her back to prison.
Butts made her first court appearance on January 14 and particulars of the offence said, last January 11, at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, she had nine kilogrammes 490 grammes of cocaine in her possession for the purpose.
She was arrested when police intercepted HB 8912, in which only she and the driver were travelling and said the narcotic was found in the seat and back of a wheelchair in the trunk of the motor vehicle.