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Drug smuggler Goldie Coats loses appeal | Drug smuggler Goldie Coats loses appeal |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman who claims she was coerced into smuggling cocaine because she suffered from battered woman syndrome has lost an appeal against her conviction. | A woman who claims she was coerced into smuggling cocaine because she suffered from battered woman syndrome has lost an appeal against her conviction. |
Goldie Coats, 28, from south-east London, said her violent former boyfriend, Chesham Walters, forced her to bring the drugs back from Jamaica. | Goldie Coats, 28, from south-east London, said her violent former boyfriend, Chesham Walters, forced her to bring the drugs back from Jamaica. |
She told the Court of Appeal Walters used to attack her nearly every day and she was "petrified" of him. | She told the Court of Appeal Walters used to attack her nearly every day and she was "petrified" of him. |
But Lady Justice Hallett described Coats as an "acknowledged liar". | But Lady Justice Hallett described Coats as an "acknowledged liar". |
She said the hearing panel did not find her evidence credible. | She said the hearing panel did not find her evidence credible. |
'Can't escape' | 'Can't escape' |
Coats, a mother of two, was convicted in 2008 and was jailed for 10 years. | Coats, a mother of two, was convicted in 2008 and was jailed for 10 years. |
She told the appeal judges Walters had "trapped" her in the relationship. | She told the appeal judges Walters had "trapped" her in the relationship. |
"It's like being in a secure van and you want to escape, but you can't escape," she said. | "It's like being in a secure van and you want to escape, but you can't escape," she said. |
Coats told the court that on one occasion he grabbed her around the throat, threw her across the kitchen and set a dog on her. | Coats told the court that on one occasion he grabbed her around the throat, threw her across the kitchen and set a dog on her. |
At another time he allegedly beat her with a belt and spat on her. Coats also told the court he put a carpet cutter to her throat. | At another time he allegedly beat her with a belt and spat on her. Coats also told the court he put a carpet cutter to her throat. |
Asked why she did not report Walters - who has been jailed for life for murder - to police rather than carry the drugs, she replied: "He petrifies me. Jail doesn't petrify me. He does." | Asked why she did not report Walters - who has been jailed for life for murder - to police rather than carry the drugs, she replied: "He petrifies me. Jail doesn't petrify me. He does." |
But Lady Justice Hallett ruled: "We see none of the characteristics one would expect to see on finding that she was suffering from BWS [battered woman syndrome]." | But Lady Justice Hallett ruled: "We see none of the characteristics one would expect to see on finding that she was suffering from BWS [battered woman syndrome]." |
She added that although Coats may have suffered violence at the hands of Walters, there was "not a hint" that she was in a state of "helplessness". | She added that although Coats may have suffered violence at the hands of Walters, there was "not a hint" that she was in a state of "helplessness". |
No evidence | |
Coats told the court she had lied during her trial in 2008 when she claimed she did not know she was carrying drugs. | |
The defendant, and another man, had been stopped at Heathrow in October 2007 with luggage containing 1.26kg (2.7lbs) of cocaine with a street value of £64,000. | |
Her case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice. | |
The Crown had opposed the appeal arguing that there was no evidence that Coats had BWS at the time of the offence and that she could not be believed. | |
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was thought to be one of the first times that a drugs conviction has been challenged on the grounds of battered woman syndrome. |
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