Mom begs judge to go easy on daughter

A repeat offender who was charged with selling illegal lottery was placed on one-year probation yesterday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court because of the pleas of her mother.

Charged with selling illegal lottery is 30-year-old Sasha-Gay Franklin.

She pleaded guilty to the offence and told the court that though it was her second time, she would never sell illegal lotto again.

Franklin said: "I was selling in the morning but not when them hold me, Your Honour."

Parish judge Chester Crooks told her that was an admission of guilt and it was bad enough that she is a repeater.

He then sent for her mother who had the money in the event of a fine.

When her mother addressed the court she said: "From dem hold her she not even go outside. She stop now fi tru, not even eat, she nah eat. She tek it to heart ... a mi last money mi have and a go tek it pay for her. A tru she help me sometime, and a me take care of her cause she nah work."

Franklin was held with $4,720 and the court ordered that the money be forfeited to the Crown.

After sentencing Franklin to one-year probation, Crooks told her: "I do not want to punish your mother for your wrongdoing."