50-y-o escapes police custody to attend mother's funeral

A 50-year-old St Catherine man was sentenced to three months imprisonment by the parish court after it was revealed he escaped police custody under the guise of using the bathroom.

He has been identified as Horace Clarke from McVickers Lane in Spanish Town.

When Clarke appeared before the court on Tuesday, Attorney-at-Law Denise Hinson submitted that a non-custodial sentenced would be appropriate, as her client attended his mother funeral and that he brought himself back to the police.

However, Parish Court judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle, told the defence that she would going against the sentencing guidelines if Clarke was not incarcerated.

She advised that the maximum is two years imprisonment, but owing to his age and the lawyer's submission, Clarke benefited from a discount.

It is reported that on January 6, Clarke was arrested on a warrant for an expired motor vehicle certificate of fitness. He was inside the station and declared that his mother had died and he need to attend her funeral.

He was escorted to use the bathroom when he ran out of the station.

- Rasbert Turner 

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on Twitter @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-2506.