Brit faces June 26 sentencing

Sianece Clarke-Johnson, the British woman who allegedly sought to smuggle $7.6 million worth of cocaine out of Jamaica inside a number of craft items in February, will have to wait until June 26 to receive her sentence in the St James Parish Court.

Clarke-Johnson was remanded when she made her latest appearance before presiding Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton last Wednesday.

During Clarke-Johnson's brief court appearance, her attorney, Alison Lawrence, told Judge Fairclough-Hylton that King's Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, Clarke-Johnson's primary lawyer who was absent from the proceedings, had requested additional time to review the defendant's social enquiry report.

"We just received the social enquiry report this morning [Wednesday], Your Honour, and so Mr Tavares-Finson is asking for some time to review the statement. He was asking for a further date, and he had specifically asked for May 29 or June 4 or 5, but the clerk has advised that you will be out at that time...so if it is possible, June 26," said Lawrence.

Fairclough-Hylton subsequently remanded Clarke-Johnson until June 26, when the sentencing hearing will take place.

According to reports, on February 26, Clarke-Johnson checked in at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to board a flight to London, England. During a search of her luggage, approximately 1.6 kilogrammes of cocaine was found concealed in Jamaican craft items.

Following the discovery, Clarke-Johnson was taken into police custody, and she was formally charged on February 29.