No change in bail conditions for British woman on cocaine rap
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A Jamaican-born British resident accused of attempting to smuggle 10 pounds of cocaine out of the island had a request to have her bail condition amended denied when she appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.
It was the third court appearance being made by Anatalie Duncan-John, a 45-year-old engineer from Manchester, England. She appeared before presiding Parish Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley.
Duncan-John was required to report to a specific police station daily as part of her bail conditions, but her attorney, Henry McCurdy, argued on Wednesday that his client was suffering from a specific illness and requested that the reporting days be reduced.
However, Smith-Ashley said she was not inclined to vary her bail condition.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor informed the court that a report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) as well as the corroborating officer’s statement were still outstanding.
Smith-Ashley subsequently set the matter for mention on January 11, 2024 and extended Duncan-John’s bail.
The allegations are that Duncan-John was at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on August 16, preparing to board a TUI flight to London, when she was intercepted by members of the narcotics police. Her two suitcases were searched and cocaine was allegedly found in food items.
Duncan-John was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine.
Meanwhile, John Pinnock, a self-employed resident of Barbican in St Andrew, with whom Duncan-John was jointly charged, failed to appear in court on Wednesday and a bench warrant was issued and stayed until the next scheduled court date.