A Florida woman who flew into Bermuda with a magazine and nine rounds of ammunition is in prison awaiting sentence today.

Lori Du-Bell, who turns 61 today, was arrested after one Customs officer found an empty magazine in her carry-on bag at LF Wade International Airport and a second officer discovered nine 9 mm rounds in the bathroom trash of the plane she'd travelled on.

The Naples resident arrived on the Island Thursday for what she anticipated would be a vacation.

Instead, she was arrested at the airport and kept in Police custody until her appearance in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

There, the tearful defendant pleaded guilty to one charge of importing the magazine clip, telling the court she'd forgotten it was in her bag.

The maximum sentence for the offence is five years' imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said Du-Bell had a concealed weapon licence which had been granted in Florida.

She decided to stop carrying her handgun, and removed it and a magazine from her bag. However she forgot about the second clip, which was loaded with live ammunition.

Ms Christopher said that during the flight to Bermuda, Du-Bell opened the bag to put away a chocolate bar when she noticed the magazine.

"Shocked" by the discovery, she went to the plane's bathroom and dumped the ammunition into the trash, but put the empty magazine back in her bag.

According to Ms Christopher, Du-Bell decided against notifying a stewardess because she was afraid this would cause a security scare that would get the plane diverted.

When searched by Customs in Bermuda, the magazine was found in her bag.

Later, when interviewed by Police, Du-Bell admitted that the ammunition found in the plane was also hers.

"In her mind, the clip is a useless piece of plastic, for all intents and purposes, once you dispose of the ammunition," said Ms Christopher. "If she thought she was in possession of something unlawful, she would have disposed of that as well."

She pointed out that Du-Bell cleared Customs in the United States twice without the items being discovered before she arrived in Bermuda.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner criticised the defendant's decision not to notify Customs when first questioned, but Ms Christopher said that the officers asked if she was carrying firearms, not parts of a firearm.

"She did not think she had anything unlawfully," said Ms Christopher.

Ms Christopher argued that Du-Bell should be discharged, saying: "There is no sentence of deterrence that will deter someone from forgetting."

And while prosecutor Ms Thomas suggested a fine, Ms Christopher said that Du-Bell had no one who could help her pay the fine.

Mr. Warner called for an adjournment until Wednesday for sentencing and, despite Ms Christopher's objections, ordered Du-Bell to be remanded into custody.

• A St. George's man pleaded not guilty yesterday to possessing a firearm and ammunition on York Street.

Gregory Outerbridge, 29, was charged with having a Ruger P90 Semi-Automatic pistol and six hollow point rounds on September 12.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered Outerbridge to be remanded in custody, with a mention set for September 21 in Magistrates' Court.