Gun charges against elderly woman dismissed

A 72-year-old resident of Rose Place, who faced firearm, ammunition and drug charges could now return her life to a state of normalcy.

On Friday, April 28, 2017, Theresa Norville walked out of the Serious Offences Court a free woman, after two drug charges against her were withdrawn.

The elderly woman was among seven persons charged on July 27, 2016, when several dozen police officers swooped down on the fishing community at about 4 a.m. and conducted a six-hour search.

When Norville appeared before the Serious Offences Court on July 29, she was charged with having in her possession an Armi Fratelli Tanfoglio 9mm-automatic pistol, serial number H12532 and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition without a licence.

She was also charged that she had in her possession three grams of cocaine and 10 grams of cannabis.

However, on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, senior prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche withdrew the firearm and ammunition charges against the elderly woman after he heard the testimony of Sergeant Morgan, the officer who headed the squad of officers on the raid.

Delpesche had made a similar decision two weeks ago in relation to the cocaine and cannabis, before any evidence was presented to the court.

Speaking with SEARCHLIGHT, Norville’s lawyer Michaela Ambrose said that the drugs had already been sent for testing, but it seems as though it was the elderly woman’s physical appearance that caused the remaining charges to be withdrawn.

Ambrose said she was happy with the prosecution’s decision, adding that she is an elderly woman, who is not in the best of health.

The defence attorney described her client as a community woman who has little knowledge of the nature of the charges.

“Now, she is able to rest easy without this hanging over her head,” said Ambrose. (AS)