A woman facing three counts of drug importation walked free from court yesterday after prosecutors declined to pursue the charges.

Stasya Hewitt-Patterson had been accused of importing undisclosed amounts of cannabis, cocaine and diamorphine between December 16 and 18, 2023.

However, during the Supreme Court arraignments session, prosecutor Karim Nelson said that the case against Ms Hewitt-Patterson had been abandoned.

A nolle prosequi notice filed by Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed that the Crown had dropped its case at present.

Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe told Ms Hewitt-Patterson that because the Crown was not proceeding, she was free to go.

Ms Hewitt-Patterson, who had been in custody, blew a kiss to supporters in the public gallery as she walked from the dock.

Ewart Brown, the former premier, also appeared in the arraignments hearing.

Dr Brown launched a constitutional claim against the Deputy Governor, Attorney-General and Director of Public Prosecutions, claiming that a criminal investigation into him was unlawful as it breached his constitutional and common law rights.

That hearing wrapped up in November 2023, but the presiding judge, Martin Forde KC, has still to deliver his ruling in the matter.

During the hearing, attorney Elizabeth Christopher, for the Crown, said that she had contacted Larry Mussenden, the Chief Justice, for an update on the matter, and hoped for a response “in the next couple of weeks”.

The Royal Gazette has contacted Mr Forde’s offices in London asking for an update, but has not received a reply.

Mr Justice Wolffe adjourned the case until the September arraignments session.

Davin Dill, who will stand trial for murder, also appeared during arraignments.

Mr Dill, 26, first went on trial for the 2020 murder of Joshua Rowse in September 2023.

However, after legal arguments held in the absence of the jury, the trial judge directed jurors to enter verdicts of not guilty.

The Crown successfully appealed that ruling in March and last month the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial.

Mr Justice Wolffe set the matter down for mention in the September arraignments session, with a view to setting a trial date for next year.

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