Nolda James Peter, a 48-year-old woman of Fields Lane Roseau, is now on remand at the State prison after bail was denied to her in a matter of handling stolen goods.
She is charged with receiving wine, other alcoholic beverages and jewellery items worth some $48,871.00.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution, headed by inspector Claude Weekes, strongly objected to bail stating that while someone is presumed “innocent until proven guilty, the matter is a serious one.”
“Large amounts of jewellery is out and we are yet to recover the items and we fear that if bail is granted it may impede our investigations since we also have interest in some other persons,” Inspector Weekes said.
The items were reportedly stolen from the home of lawyer Wayne Norde by Charles Francois.
However, Peter’s attorney, David Bruney, countered, stating that his client has said she was “innocent” and would in no way interfere in the investigations. The police, he told the court, were trying to “stump her and infringe on her constitutional right to bail.”
Chief Magistrate Evaline Baptiste, expressed concern at what she described as “a pandemic of theft and handling of stolen goods” and stated that while Peter does have her constitutional rights to bail, the court “can’t bury its head in what’s happening.” She decided to give the police more time to investigate and promised to review the matter on November 30, 2012.
The Prelimanary Inquiry is set for June 3, 2013.
In other matters relating to the burglary at the home of Wayne Norde, a number of persons who were charged with handling stolen goods have pleaded guilty to the offences and were all fined.
Spanish national, Rosa Rodriguez, was fined $1,500.00 to be paid by May 1, 2013 or face 6 months jail if she defaults. She was also ordered to pay compensation of $87.00 by December 31 or in default 1 year jail, for purchasing one bottle of amaretto from Charles Francois.
Rodriguez owns and operates a bar on Federation Drive.
Catherine Lilian Baron, a shop keeper of Tarish Pit, bought crest cheese, wine and other items from Francois. She pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500.00 to be paid by May 1, 2013 failing which, she will be jailed for 6 months.
She also was ordered to pay compensation of 169.00 by December 31 or in default, spend 3 weeks jail.
Reports indicate that Francois had told the two that he had received a barrel and had extra items for sale.
What I want to know is how comes the lawyer have all them good time in his house….a young lawyer he be…hmmmph…maybe he opening a supermarket! hahahah LOL
i answer that question already .some criminals pay money ,some give honey ,some give treasure and some give pleasure
hmmm
I really don’t understand why people are speaking about the lawyer that way. When doctors attend to criminals and prevent them from dying nobody speaks about the doctors. The lawyer’s job is to defend people have have only been charged with a crime and not convicted. He is a member of society and we expect that he can be robbed as anybody else would. Should he stop doing is job now. When all of allu who talking now get in trouble or allu family members get in trouble is the same lawyers allu running by.
u answering to what is not the issue,what the persons talking about are the things in the house not what he does.
Does he not have an alarm system in his home? It appears that all Dominicans who specifically have new homes and furnishings and other paraphernalia should ensure that their homes are secured and also to have property insurance.
I find it very strange that murderers are granted bail in Dominica, yet someone is alleged to have received stolen goods amounting to a meager forty-eight thousand dollars, and this woman is denied bail!
It would appear to me as if the a crime of larceny in Dominica is treated as a capital crime whiles people who kills as butchers, people are free to walk to walk the streets.
I know a man here in California who was convicted of appropriating more than fifteen million dollars while he served in the military; this man was sentenced to thirty-six months in jail (three years).
He was not treated as a murderer; he was granted bail, and even after he was convicted, he was given time to go home and set his business in order and was told when he should turn himself in to authorities to start serving his time.
” Massa” day exist in Dominica for the poor, the old colonial mentality still exist; I see no reason why this lady should not be granted bail.
Here is another example, one of my sons, bought a car from someone which turn out to be stolen, he had his registration papers from the DMV, the police caught him speeding, pulled him over, in the process when the ran the registration plate it came back as a stolen car.
My son presented the bill of sale, all the police did was confiscated the car, and my son walked home!
We are so backward in Dominica it is not funny!
Weaks need to go and arrest the murders such as those who murdered my nephew refuse giving them bail, and let this woman out on bail until it’s time for a trial!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Telemaque, i totally agree with u. that is pure nonsense. so many murders walking free on the road and even committing more crimes.
dominica and its government is not for the poor, but for the rich and those in power.
dont worry nolda, u will rise above this
hmm but i doe understand all u people the man ask n beg to go jail, but all u doesn’t understand english man
We hope, since the latest murder of the deceased, Marvlyn Robinson, they will take a good look at their process and not grant them, the murderers bail. They belong in prison.
Only in Dominica it is a lesser crime to kill someone than to steal something….
only last year a German man was set free in the high court after having bought a gold bangle worth over $22,000.00 from a juvenile who broke into a senior citizen home, but now a lawyer house is involved and a woman is in prison. Where is justice? is it according to who is burglarized?
Nola eh beh, look drama u put urself in.
Ms. Leatham mind your business
Lol Wayne…voleh from lawyer….
one thing i find with this one sided system is that once a ghetto yout ends up in them sort of things they are quick to put their picture for everyone to see.
Bias system
so damn tue ehh
true*
nola is a ghetto yout? hahhaha
Mooooo. If there were not people who encourage these people to steal then we would not have thieves lime is a thief that everybody knoW and always watch nolda thought that she could escape the radar but there is no loyalty among thieves therefore they will sellout each other nolda you are a bad example to the society and all them 16 plenty children you have hope you learn. Moooooooo
Mooooooooo eben wey norde you love to run and defend them and say they not quilty they did not do it is lie so what happen the snake turn around and bite you eh eh boy?? You thought that you was immune from snake bite?? How it feeling it. Sweet you like it mooooooooooo
Nols that is a nice picture.
I am in now way favoring one criminal over the other, but please explain to me how if it is proven three people received stolen goods, why is it only one being held without bail? When you under police radar dog bite you. I not pleading for Nolda I just asking for justice. All should get the same punishment!! Other than that, the police need to complete their investigations before taking people to court. What they have done is tell the magistrate ‘hold mamselle there fore me a while for me to see if she guilty’!! That is wrong!! Send your spies first and then arrest people. If you find three then all should have same charge and all get same punishment!!
I am sorry but I cannot be on the side of justice this time. As it stands, Nolda have to be charged the same $1,500 and the cost of what the police find in her possession just like the others.
For all who crtizing mr wyane norde and saying nonesense about him please get to no him 1st. Don’t let his name fool u. He came from a middle class family like many of u but went to school and learnt well to become a lawyer. He has a great personality and very fun to be with. So please don’t judge him by his work, get to know him in person. Isn’t that we all went to school for to learn and make something for ourselves just like skerrit did and now he is prime minister? Shame on u all small minded peole. Everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
for*
they kept nola ,because she pled not guilty, if she had pled guilty, they would have charge her like the others
Wayne Norde must have had a warehouse at his home……all these items in a young man home
i cannot understand dat nah. police must investigate where all those drinks come from ummm i smell a rat.
she might have commited the crime she is charged for, but what i dont understand is that drug dealers, murderers, child molesters, gun toting rebels are granted bail, and roaming free in Dominica, but no bail for this crime?.. go figure, where is the justice for poorer people no one to stand the bail?
as read there were a series of indivifuals involved in handling stolen goods on the same matter so where are pictures now, one set of ppl to see…wen a ppl against is against dey against you….respect ppl in that country wii de dangerous…dats why dat contry not moving no where….proud to be dominica as so i wish…..hmmmmmmm
so drugs and murder getting bail… but handling stolen goods not getting bail… that’s the definition of injustice…
What is wrong with representing criminal?Even they have a right to justice.And the Lawyers have their family to feed too…should he go begging like most of us do?Let the man do his job and do allu own.foolish people talking bout representing criminals such biasness!
The justice has its fault and even that is debatable.Look at law and order and NCIS although they are just make believe they send clear messages.OUR police OFFICERS NEED TO BE MORE THOROUGH IN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS IN OTHER FOR JUSTICE TO BE SERVED IN OUR LAND;
CAN A MAN BE CONVICTED WITH NO EVIDENCE OR HEAR SAY?I GUESS WE’D ALL BE IN JAIL!
ITS MORE THAN JUST TALKING PEOPLE;;;
I don’t condone nobody stealing the man’s property, but I hope you guys realize why there is a vested interest in recycling crimes and criminals in Dominican society; there is too much money to be made.
Some people making some serious pepesh on the spate of crimes we are experiencing here…
Coconut passion you there defending !!!!!!!! LOL.
The State does not have to prove that they knew it was stolen goods. It is a strict liability offence, once you possess them that is sufficient. The penalty is higher for one convicted of stolen goods than it is for the actual theft. It seems weird but the theory behind the law is that if there was no market for the stolen goods etc then people would not be stealing other person’s property.
Today I see the injustice of the court in dominica. People who are killing are granted bail the very instant they are arrested once the lawyer plead on their behalf. But because this lady presumably handled stolen goods, she is denied bail BECAUSE the defendant is a lawyer. Everyday our system gets worse because we punish based on the persons rank in society and based on whether the person has money but the court fail to take note of the intensity of the crime and matter. Shameful
Are you just realizing that everything in Dominica is based on who you know? Last name, title and who can pay you. It has always been that way in Dominica.
Why are you so negative? So what if the goods belonged to a lawyer or someone who is not a lawyer? It is still a grievous crime. Did you not read that if she is released, she could impede the investigations? There is a strong possibility that if she is released on bail she could very well do this in secret. Do you trust such people?
Thou Shalt Not Steal. This also means, accepting stolen property. It is a serious crime.
When people sell items to others, they should first ask where they got them and if the items are rightfully theirs. Otherwise if they accept them, bought them and also sell them, they could find themselves in trouble with the Law.
This man implicated a lot of people. They should have been suspicious of him and of the items, that he may have stolen them. It is too bad that they accepted the stolen items from him without asking questions. Or did they? I hope that they learned a good lesson.
He said he is from Giraudel and Paix Bouche. It sounds as if he is from Roseau. He knows all those people in Roseau and surrounding areas or thieves make it their point of duty to know the entire area for they do a lot of walking or driving around to target victims’ houses.
I know some Benjamins, prominent people who lived in Roseau. I have no idea if he is related to them or is a cousin down the lineage. Maybe not but if he is, he is a disgrace to his relatives.
Since he is a chronic thief and a big-time one, he is actually a worthless person and is of no good use to society unless he changes his evil habit.
Francois is a chronic thief, he was released from prison less than a month ago. He loves prison as he gets his meals daily and while there he does not have to worry about where the next meal will come from.
The sad thing is that he is not being rehabilitated at the prison. He is begging for a long sentence because he must feel that one good day someone will catch him in the act and he will collect a bullet, or what ever…..
I, too, have been a victim of his crime.
Enough said……….
it is women like these that are a shame to society. a woman with big children getting involve in that nonsense. what are you teaching your children?
Is time for dem lawyers to feel our pain…..yes I !
Wayne Norde should represent these defendants at the court as he is the one always quick to represent and defend all criminals.
@ B.E.B.
What goes around comes around, eh?
It certainly does in time. I wonder how quick will he be to defend them in the future? Of course, he is getting paid for it therefore he has no alternative but to defend them. Since he was a victim to crime in a big way, I wonder how he will feel defending them in the future. May be it is time for him to retire. 
DNO hurry with LIKE and DISLIKE…Wayne Norde, ah how u unpopulah so…not long u on the scene and dude… lol…Asa Bantan, ah how he unpopulah so? lmao.
Too many of our citizens Are Stealing or knowingly handle stolen goods. I’m glad they are getting caught. Resist temptation and don’t take what is not yours!!!! There is a price to pay for all. Whether it is pple in high places or low street corners Keep your sticky fingers to yourself. Pas voley ou kae payeh! Obey the law! Respect your self and others.
They should go to a reputable store owner to purchase items and not from someone who approaches them. They should be suspicious of those who sell items to them and ask relevant questions prior to purchasing it.
In fact, it is their obligation to telephone the police (do not make the seller wise), if they feel that the items may be stolen.
It is simple, just ask him/her to return and in the meantime, contact the police. They will be caught on the spot selling stolen items. They will have no way of knowing that the person telephoned the police.
The police should utilize their discretion and pretend that they were just passing by and patrolling the area.
lol that lady does make me laugh u knw
Even the Mothers of this country are in the “Want it Now” business
Internet Mammas!
Comedy
Norde, how does it feel to be on the other side??? Normally you are defending the criminals, now the shoe has shifted, and I could bet my last dollar that this shoe is sqeezing your little toe!
I’ve always said these criminals need to start paying these lawyers some visits. Let them taste the sweetness of being violated
. Take up the case Norde, defend him!!! After all is ur money u making and that’s all that matters.
lol
A certain lawyer was granted impunity for handling stolen goods.
all lillian can do is buy stolen goods , its bout time she pay a money in court , they doe charge her enough…. i always say police must catch her u know…lol lol lol
HMMMMM dats some charges but nola boyy u use to sell ur drinks so irie u go and tie up ur self for a bottle of wine! come on man
and he has a lawyer tooooooo.best way to go .one lawyer to defend him against another lawyer .thats just the begining of the shame on our lawyers
yes. yes. yes.represented by wayne norde
Can he not defend himself? Surely he is proficient enough to do so.
Police must ask for his warehouse. There must be other items he stole too. You see the same lawyer that jump infront each time to bail them is at his home they go. Others look out. Criminals should always be behind bars.
Beware of befriending them for those whom they befriend will surely be their next victims.
…and vice versa.
I Just read your co-pilot get 6 months so far conpeh Charles Francois even begging to be sent to jail. Nola put water in your wine lady!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Ppl go head keep on stealing goods cuz our justice system sucks. Look @ the kind of charges the ppl are receiving.no justice. Slap on the wrist alone these ppl are getting.will these kind of things ever stop? No when its just slap on the wrist these criminals get.suck suck!!!!
all should go up…I dnt know one nor the other…but whether it was $10 worth or $60,000 worth or one wine or 20 wine ..pleading guilty or not, even worst pleading guilty go up…cuase I dont c the diff between what the Peters did compare to the Baron or spanish woman…ALL HANDLED STOLEN GOODS!!!!…so what happen the amt of Peters stuff made the diff becuse it had jewellery in it?
I have a couple of questions:
1. Why a Spanish national is allowed to run business in Dominica?
2. Any criminal offence by another national should be deported.
3. Did they know they were purchasing stolen goods?
Silly. So many Dominicans (Comm. of Dominica) have businesses in Guadeloupe, SM. Antigua, America, England…need I continue?….and yes, most of them have dual citizenship.
If you have nothing sensible to say, keep your mouth shut
bull shit wear u from u kno they want us kno wear u havent travel yet person to kno how it is why should strangers have to give us compitation in buisness for true real talk dat later will be grater for them dominincans dare they will seein time !!!
@B, I take serious offense to your first question. While I am no way justifying the woman’s action and believe she should be punished in the most severe manner possible, her nationality should not be an issued when it comes to her running a business in Dominica. Last time I check there were more Dominican citizens earning a living outside of Dominica as oppose to those in Dominica. In the future, Please do yourself and Country a favor and Think before you post another comment with similar sentiments….
Governments of those islands are too quick to welcome any and everyone and prior to investigating them and their background. This is why those people use the islands and nationals as a scapegoat. The Law is lax. This is the problem in those islands. The priority should be given to nationals. Dominican residents should be concerned about that.
A non-national in any part of the West Indies/the world should not be allowed to own and operate a business until they become citizens. It is my feeling that some of them may not have landed status and already they pretend that they are nationals, one of them and are entitled to open a business. They should not merely go to the license office, if they do and request a license to open a business. It should be government-approved, right from the top.
Did the government approve of this Spanish woman opening a business in Dominica? Where did she get the money from to open a business? This, too, should have been investigated.
why Dominicans nationals allowed to run businesses in other islands?
Because the government needs the revenue or it is lax. Should it be and without citizen status? This is the question.
I have a question for you, why shouldn’t you own a business in Dominicaand why should a Dominican own a business in another state?
But all those Spanish in Dominica married to real Dominicans and have their citizenship.
Dominica has changed. Spanish, Haitians and Chinese are now an integral part of the Dominican landscape. Is not just Africans, Kalinago and Lebanese alone we have now you know.
$87.00 Or one year in jail
And
$196.00 or three weeks.
Are none Dominicans punishment more severe than Dominican.
Your first question. Remember the Mexican woman who overstayed her visit in Dominica? Then she had a baby and immediately she was granted landed status. Of course Dominicans were not pleased about that.
I thought that the Spanish woman should have been deported.
Recall the man who was residing in Grand Bay? He had a child with a woman. He was a barber. The magistrate told him he had to leave Dominica. It was stated that he was not deported. I wonder if he returned. He appeared to be an exemplary person. I thought that the magistrate should have allowed him to stay. There are too many double standards in Dominica.
You are correct. Why is the Spanish woman in Dominica and operating a business? Do you know that, in Canada, one must be a citizen to open a business? People go to Dominica to live and open a business and they are not investigated. Lax Immigration Law.
Why is she living in Dominica? Who is she? Some people run away from the Law in their land of birth. They could be criminals, even murderers for that matter.
Karla Homolka, a Canadian, murdered two people; one was her sister. They were actually tortured. One of their bodies was found encased in concrete. She served time in prison.
This is some story. A movie was made and shown on TV. I did not view it and never will. I am not interested. I heard and read enough of these gruesome crimes through the Canadian Media.
A Canadian reporter searched for her and found her residing in Guadeloupe under an assumed name. She is married to her lawyer’s brother. She had a child and one or two with him.
This means that she, twice a murderer has a new passport and could travel anywhere in the world including to Dominica which is a stone’s throw (so-to-speak) from Guadeloupe. Consider her mixing with law-abiding people and prominent ones at that in Guadeloupe. I hope that I never see her face. She is not exonerated and is still considered a murderer and always will be.
When she was released from prison, she resided in Montreal, Quebec. They hounded her including reporters. She had no peace. This is another sort of punishment for her grievous crimes. Canadians will never forgive her. Her name is a bad word on their lips.
These people find themselves in the islands so that they can hide from the Law and people who knew them. I would pack her right back to Canada. Canadians are so disgusted with her; they hate her for what she did that they do not want her in their vicinity.
It is high time that Dominican residents stand up and be counted. Speak up and write your government but please do so peacefully and respectfully. Too many are using Dominica as their haven of retreat and no doubt hiding. Probably under false pretext.
if it good for the gander it good 4 the goose…Nolda and the other ppl ppl charges are no different..all of them buy stolen goods whether in one bottle wine or ten bottle wines…so every other person should go up 2 whether they plead guilty or not even worse if you plead guilty…am not a friend of the Peters woman, but is she worse…d spanish and baron did the same thing buy stolen goods whether it was $10 worth or $60,000 worth every body should go up.
How come the lawyer have all that goods @ his home
guess some criminal pay him by money ,some by honey some by treasure and some by pleasure
rescue 911, you have me cracking up with laughter at your comments.
hmmp!!! i was wondering the same thing
amen
@concerd citizen – that question you just ask is so silly. he worked hard for it. that is what youths of today dont know to do. go school and learn.
wat work hard!!! stupsss
they man had working go and work for all u own !!
Some mothers too soo-ti-ware, they know their children not working anywhere but they have them at their home bringing all kind of expensive things for them. It have more mothers to go, the court needs to make this one and example!
Ok.. where in the article did you get that, to conclude that mothers are “too soo-ti-ware”? hmm…
B since it don’t have the like and dislike button I have to do it manually. I LIKE YOUR COMMENT. ThIS sound like a personal issue not related to this article
hmmmm ohh boi…..