Judge quotes Popcaan after shocking revelation

A shocking twist unfolded in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday, leading the judge to borrow Popcaan's famous saying, 'Trouble Deh Deh!'

In an epic courtroom scene that could rival a blockbuster movie, Corrina Clarke, the expectant mother, who was nabbed for attempting to introduce contraband into Constant Spring Police lock-up, said the package was not for her murder-accused babyfather. She told the court that it was for another man in the same facility.

Clarke is before the court for introducing prohibited items into a lock-up and unlawful possession property. It is alleged that on February 19, Clarke attended the Constant Spring Police Station with a meal for a detainee. Checks of the container revealed that two containers were sealed together and when further searched, two phones, Rizzla paper, tobacco and vegetable matter resembling ganja were found.

She pleaded not guilty to the offence.

In addition to telling the court that it was not intended for her jailed spouse, Clarke said she has no idea where it came from.

"I got a call from someone, and they asked if it's CC them talking to. They asked me to bring the food to the lock-up, but I don't know who I was talking to," Clarke related.

Her babyfather is Ojo Russell, who was charged with the murder of paralegal Sandra Risden.

Clarke's utterance prompted Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque to borrow an expression made famous by dancehall artiste Popcaan.

"I wonder if him know. You have a babyfather at the station and you a carry food for next man. ... Problem, trouble deh deh," Cole-Montaque quipped.

In addition to being pregnant, Clarke is the mother of a one-year-old child. The judge described her behaviour as "carefree" and told her that her defence is "not making any sense".

"You get a call from an anonymous source, you're saying, somebody who you don't know, you get a call from a male and this person says 'Can you bring something to the lock-up?' And you don't say 'To whom I am speaking?'. What a way you available. So what are you, a transporter? Is that a service you are in? Miss this is not making any sense and of all places, the lock-up. I suspect you don't work," the senior judge said.

Clarke was remanded in custody until March 5.