American servicewoman caught with loaded magazine granted bail extension
Published:Monday | August 12, 2024 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A former United States military servicewoman, who was arrested on August 3, after a magazine containing 10 live rounds of ammunition was found in her luggage on her arrival in Jamaica, had her bail extended until September 18 when she appeared in court last Wednesday.
Christina Salmon, who is charged with unauthorised possession of ammunition, appeared before presiding Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton, who extended her bail after her lawyer, Henry McCurdy, asked for an extension to allow the defendant to seek medical treatment overseas.
“Ms Salmon should have gone back home on Monday [August 5], but because of this matter she is still here. She spent the past two days in the Cornwall Regional Hospital, as she took ill and was rushed to the hospital,” McCurdy told the court. “She needs to go back home for further medical examination and treatment.
“When persons go to Iraq and other countries like Ms Salmon has done, and they get back to the United States and they are discharged with 100 per cent disability because of the effects from Iraq and Afghanistan, they have post-traumatic stress disorder. She suffers from the same condition, and the medication she needs is not in Jamaica.”
Fairclough-Hylton noted that she was not opposed to Salmon seeking the necessary treatment, but that she would not rush to dispose of the case.
“While it would be somewhat easier for me to just deal with what is before me today, the truth is that, based on the allegations as outlined by the prosecution, I would afford the prosecution some more time to deal with their instructions [as given by the police] and to see what is happening,” the judge said.
“If there is something else that needs to be done, I will not sacrifice what needs to be done on the basis of expediency, but I have no difficulty with her (Salmon) returning for medical treatment,” added Fairclough-Hylton.
The case was subsequently set for mention on September 18, and Salmon’s bail was extended for her to return to court on that date.
It is alleged that on August 3, Salmon arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, on an incoming JetBlue flight. While she was checking in, a routine security scan of her luggage detected an unusual object. The object turned out to be a Sig Sauer firearm magazine with 10 rounds of ammunition.
Under caution, Salmon reportedly said, “It was an honest mistake, I did not realise it was in my bag. My boyfriend packed my bag in a hurry and I did not realise it was in my bag, because I was rushing to catch my flight.”
She was arrested and charged.