Elderly couple guilty of drug dealing
Vivienne Oakley
09jun04
A COUPLE, believed to be Australia's oldest convicted drug dealers, may lose their house, their savings and all their possessions.
The World War II veteran and his wife of 58 years were yesterday released on a suspended jail term, after being caught with almost 19kg of cannabis.
A jury found the Perth couple guilty on two counts each of possessing cannabis for supply.
David William Sidney Davies, 81, was brought into the West Australian District Court in a wheelchair. His wife, Florence Gladys Davies, 77, sat in the dock with a green blanket covering her knees. In deference to their age and frail health, they were allowed to remain seated while Judge Peter Williams told them they were sentenced to 16 months' jail, suspended for two years.
The court heard cannabis worth up to $260,000 was found stashed in their home -- in a false ceiling above the passageway, and in three ice-cream containers under their bed.
Police also found $7000 cash in their car, which the great-grandparents claimed they had saved from their pensions for an overseas holiday.
However, prosecutor Paul Dixon told the jury that money had been paid to the couple by their son, who admitted stashing the drugs at his parent's home.
Their son, Tyssul Davies, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing the drug for sale or supply, in October 2002, and was sent to jail for two years and nine months.
The guilty verdict may result in the pensioners losing their home, $40,000 in fixed deposits and everything they own.
Under the WA's drug laws the Director of Public Prosecutions can seek an order officially declaring them drug traffickers.
That label -- which can be sought in relation to any person caught in WA in possession of more than 3kg of cannabis -- would mean confiscation of their assets.
WA DPP Robert Cock is still considering the circumstances.
Max Crispe, for Mr Davies, said the case reflected the adage "you can choose your friends but not your relatives".
Mrs Davies' lawyer, Judith Fordham, said the couple had found the court process "enormously stressful".
Mr Davies suffered a heart attack in the Perth police watchhouse when arrested two years ago and his wife is also on a waiting list for surgery.
From:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9789582%5E662,00.html
