Woman constable’s sentencing delayed

WESTERN BUREAU:

The much-anticipated sentencing of Woman Constable Kaye Falconer, who was recently found guilty of harbouring a fugitive, did not materialise when she appeared in the St James Parish Court yesterday as the sentencing was deferred to May 31,

In addition to the harbouring a fugitive charge, Falconer was also charged with other police officers in relation to the release of the prisoner in question, Greg Taylor. He was released from the lock-up at the Freeport Police Station, also in Montego Bay, under questionable circumstances on January 30, 2013.

In court yesterday, Falconer's attorney, Adrian Dayes, told presiding judge Natalie Hart-Hines that arrangements were to be made for the defendant to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, to assist in determining her sentence, and that the report would take several weeks to complete.

SOCIAL ENQUIRY

The court was also told that Falconer's social enquiry report, which had previously been prepared and submitted for the sentencing hearing, was to be copied and placed on the case-file.

After examining the request and its implications, Judge Hart-Hines decided to delay the sentencing and extended Falconer's bail until May 31 when everything is expected to be in place by then.

At the time, Taylor was released from the Freeport Police Station without the requisite authorisation, the St James police hierarchy described him as a dangerous man, who had committed serious criminal offences in St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

After being on the run for a protracted period, Taylor was recaptured at the Glendevon home of Constable Falconer. He was reportedly found hiding under a table clad in a bathrobe and bed slippers.