Smith sings different buggery tune
March 10, 2009
MEMBER OF Parliament Ernie Smith might just have become the butt of a new round of jokes. Despite his impassioned plea in February for tougher penalties for buggery convicts, the South West St Ann representative, who is also an attorney-at-law, was in court last week strongly defending a man charged with - you guessed it - buggery.
So strident was Smith in defence of his client in the St Ann Circuit Court that although pleading guilty to the charge, the accused was able to walk away with just a suspended sentence.
Professionalism
Smith later defended his action, saying he was upholding the tenets of his profession.
"I am a professional person; anyone who confides in me and believes in me that I will properly represent them in any case, provided I take the case, I give that person my 100 per cent expertise," Smith explained.
Lenford Adams, 23, of Alexandria, St Ann, was brought before Justice Leighton Pusey on a charge of buggery on February 23.
Allegations presented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Natalie Brooks are that on August 19, 2007, the accused entered the room of his female cousin and began fondling her, and buggered her afterwards.
Adams pleaded guilty but sentencing was put off until March 6....
Author: Carl Gilchrist
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
