December 14 court date for 5 on drug rap – Jamaica Observer

A file photo of white powdery substance believed to be cocaine being tested.

MONTEGO BAY, St James – Five people before the court on drug charges, stemming from a police raid in Montego Bay’s swanky Ironshore community, will return to court on December 14.

During the raid, cops seized more than half-a-million dollars and a quantity of cocaine. No progress was made during their last court appearance because the case file is incomplete.

Fifty-one-year-old Barrington Kerr, 44-year-old Kerry-Ann Kerr, and 23-year-old Juanecia Kerr, all residents of Ironshore, are charged with conspiracy, possession, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine, in addition to using premises to manufacture and distribute the drug.

Two Hanover residents have also been charged. They are 25-year-old Kayodia Dias from Cash Hill in the parish, and Percival Parkins from Cascade.

Attorneys-at-law Martyn Thomas and Michael Hemmings represent all five defendants. Attorneys Jermaine Campbell and Henry McCurdy requested that their names be removed from the record when the case was last heard in the St James Parish Court.

Also at that time, the court was informed that the scene of crime computer disk and statement, as well as a report from the Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, remain outstanding. The court expects the file to be ready in another two months.

Presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley subsequently scheduled the case for mention on December 14, and the five defendants’ bails were extended.

According to court documents, between July 9 and 10, an intelligence-driven operation was carried out at the Kerrs’ Ironshore apartment, where all accused individuals were seen. Barrington Kerr was served with a warrant under the Dangerous Drugs Act, and the premises were searched. During a search of the bedroom he shares with Kerry-Ann Kerr, a bag was searched. In it was found nine packages of Maggie coconut milk and Lasco packages, all of which contained cocaine. The quantity of the drug was not disclosed in the court documents.

A further search of the premises yielded $570,000. In addition, a search of a motor vehicle on the premises yielded several empty Maggie coconut milk powder packages and empty ziplock bags. A field test on the empty packages reportedly revealed the presence of cocaine. The car is registered to a company owned by Barrington and Kerry-Ann Kerr.

Barrington Kerr’s other residence in Smithfield District, Cascade, Hanover, was also searched and $109,050 was discovered and seized.

The five accused were subsequently arrested and charged.