By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
western bureau:

Despite fervent pleas from an attorney for leniency, RM Winsome Henry upheld an 18-month sentence against two models in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The convicted women, Rochelle Campbell-Hall and Ashley Beason, both 20-year-old part-time models and students of Central England, were each given 18 months for drug-related offences.

They were also fined after they pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in and attempting to export more than 50 pounds of ganja.

"I know that what we did was wrong and I apologise, but the sentence that you've given, I don't think my state of mind can handle it," said Beason, who wept uncontrollably when the sentence was passed. She was charged for 29.5 pounds of the contraband.

However, RM Henry reminded her that if she was held in England with such a large amount of drugs, she could be locked away for a minimum eight years.

"The Holloway Prison in England is full of women like you who are caught with drugs coming from Jamaica," the judge commented.

Their attorney, Adrian Dayes, told the court that the women carried out the offence under duress. He explained that the women, who came to Jamaica for the first time, had refused to take the drugs back but were raped and threatened by a relative of Beason's stepfather and another man, who sponsored their trip.

Dayes said that it was fear for their lives that caused them "to cave in" to the pressure.

However, the investigating officer told the court that at no point did the girls report that they had been forced to transport the drugs.

story not believable

RM Henry said she had difficulty believing the story presented to the court, and said that the women should have reported their ordeal to the police.

"I have to send a message to other young, vulnerable persons that when they come to Jamaica and are caught with drugs, they will go to prison, and for a very long time," she noted.

The facts are that the two checked in at the Sangster International Airport to board a Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight to London. They were interviewed at the boarding gate and two of four suitcases that they had checked in were searched in their presence.

Six parcels of ganja were found in each suitcase. Campbell-Hill had 28.25 pounds while Beason had 29.5 pounds.

They were each fined $15,000 or six months in prison for possession and Campbell-Hill was fined $180,000 or six months for attempting to export. Beason was fined $190,000 as she had a larger amount of the drugs.