Lawyer’s absence delays 2022 cocaine case to April 12
Published:Saturday | March 23, 2024 | 12:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE CASE against Sheena Headley, the St James woman who was arrested in June 2022 after $85-million worth of cocaine was reportedly seized at her home, has been pushed back to April 12 due to her lawyer’s absence from the St James Parish Court yesterday.
Headley, who is charged with possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export 25 pounds of cocaine, had her bail extended following her latest appearance before presiding parish judge Sasha-Marie Ashley.
During yesterday’s brief mention of Headley’s case, the court was advised that her attorney, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, was absent due to having a case in the Supreme Court.
“Counsel [Champagnie] did reach out to me yesterday, and he indicated that there is a matter in the Supreme Court that was set as a priority matter for his submissions; as a result, he is regrettably and unavoidably absent,” the clerk of the court told Judge Ashley, while also noting that the matter first came before the court on June 24, 2022.
Replacement lawyer
It was also disclosed that another attorney was to have arrived at court to represent Headley in Champagnie’s place. However, the court was not able to ascertain who the replacement lawyer was.
Judge Ashley then excused Headley from the courtroom in order for her to make contact with Champagnie’s office and verify a potential return date, as the attorney had not submitted any suggested dates for continuation.
When Headley returned to the courtroom a few minutes later, it was confirmed that April 12 would be a convenient date for Champagnie to be at court so the case could resume at that time. As a result, Ashley extended Headley’s bail to April 12.
The allegations are that on June 15, 2022, about 6 p.m., a team of officers from the Area One Narcotics Police Division carried out an operation at Headley’s home in Goodwill, St James. During the search, 10 rectangular-shaped packages were found in the trunk of a Toyota Prado SUV belonging to Headley.
The packages were subsequently identified as cocaine weighing approximately 25 pounds, and following an interview session in the presence of her lawyer, Headley was arrested and charged with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
During the same operation, approximately 90 exotic birds and other wildlife were found at the premises, in contravention of the Wildlife Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Chad Headley, Sheena Headley’s husband, pleaded guilty to two breaches of each Act and was fined $50,000 on October 11, 2022.
Sheena Headley was also charged in relation to the exotic birds, but those charges were later dismissed. Likewise, Chad Headley was charged in relation to the alleged cocaine seizure, but he was subsequently acquitted of that charge.