A retired surgeon whose party yacht was blown up in Nantucket harbor last week with guns, drugs and alleged prostitutes on board has stage four terminal cancer and is not expected to live much longer, his lawyer has revealed.
Scott Burke, 69, was described as a good citizen and humanitarian who lived his last days partying as he battled terminal cancer by defense attorney Henry Brennan.
He spoke during a pre-trial hearing last Thursday, where he successfully argued against his client’s imprisonment.
“Having this man potentially spend the rest of his life waiting for a case in prison, to me, is very, very tragic,” Brennan told Nantucket District Court Judge James Sullivan according to the Nantucket Current.
Although Brennan did not specify the type of Burke’s cancer, a captain who works at the port told The Post he had previously given a ride to two people who delivered “cancer drugs” to Burke’s 80-foot vessel, the Jess Conn, the day after the doctor was arrested last Tuesday.
Burke pleaded not guilty to the charges and posted $200,000 bail. Boston Globe via Getty Images
Police found several guns, ammunition, drugs and prostitutes aboard Burke’s 82-foot vessel, the Jess Conn. New York Post
“I brought out someone who claimed to be a friend of the owner. He claimed to have brought someone — and I now know it was the owner — his cancer medicine to him,” said the captain, who declined to be identified.
The captain also noted the person he was carrying later appeared to return with “more stuff than they came out with.”
While revealing Burke’s health condition, Brennan told the court that the surgeon and father of two was among those who volunteered in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010 and that he had completed more than 110 surgeries there.
The retired doctor is pictured with his family on a yacht in an undated photo. facebook/Tony Burkenstock
Scott Burke, a retired doctor busted on charges of drug and weapons trafficking, was revealed to have stage four, terminal cancer. Boston Globe via Getty Images
The lawyer also claims Burke has given most of his fortune to colleges and scholarships, while asking for nothing in return.
Given his terminal diagnosis, charity work and lack of criminal record, Brennan pushed for Burke’s release on bail, which the judge agreed to, setting his bond at $200,000.
Burke has posted bail at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility, walking free on weekends. His ship, also said to be his primary residence, remained in Nantucket harbor Monday morning.
At least three men were spotted aboard the Jess Conn, who waved at Post reporters, but remained silent.
The Jess Conn remained at sea, with a captain in Nantucket Harbor stating that people had sent “cancer medicine” to the ship. James Keivom
Police raided the Burke last week after they received a call that a woman had overdosed on drugs and wanted to be taken off the boat.
Responding officers found several firearms on board — along with 43 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of ketamine, according to police reports. The Nantucket Current also reported that some of the women on the boat were prostitutes.
Residents in the area also told the post that a fight broke out between two women shortly before the authorities reached the ship.
Burke faces drug and weapons trafficking charges and appeared in Plymouth District Court. He has pleaded not guilty.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
