Luenda Ells pleaded not guilty to theft when she appeared before the Magistrate's Court on May 22, 2013. Photo: VINO/File

When the defendant appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on June 14, 2013 she was told by Crown Counsel Herbert Potter that the Crown would no longer be offering any evidence against her in the matter and the charges were dismissed as a result of this.

The Crown did not offer a reason for the withdrawal.

Ells, a resident of Parham Town, was previously placed on $50,000 bail and the Crown had alleged that the woman admitted under caution to picking up the wallet when she was interviewed by Police Officers following the reported theft.

The incident allegedly occurred on March 15, 2013 at the Riteway Supermarket in Major Bay, East End. The money reportedly belonged to another customer at the supermarket.

See previous story posted May 23, 2013:

Vincentian accused of stealing wallet containing $800 

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - A resident of Parham Town made a trip to a local supermarket to purchase items recently and allegedly ended up gifting his entire money clip away, reportedly losing $800 in the process.

The Crown has since accused Vincentian national, Luenda Ells of stealing the man’s money, though she denied this when she appeared in court yesterday, May 22, 2013. Ells, a stay-at-home mother of three, pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft

According to allegations read in the Magistrate’s court by Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham, the Virtual Complainant (VC) visited Riteway Supermarket at Major Bay on March 15, 2013 around 10 P.M. and left after paying for his goods.

The VC reportedly forgot his money clip which allegedly contained $800 at the cash register at the supermarket and returned after discovering this missing. Enquiries were made and a search was conducted, but the clip was never found. A report was later made at the East End Police Station.

Police subsequently carried out enquiries on March 22, 2013 and received a copy of the supermarket’s security footage.

It is alleged that the investigating officer saw a woman take up a brown money clip wallet from the cash register and put it into her bag. The accused, Mrs Ells, was met by officers on March 28, 2013 and was informed of the allegations and cautioned.

The defendant, while under caution, allegedly admitted to picking up the wallet containing the money. She was reportedly informed that it was an offence and placed on $20,000 signed Police bail.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards told the unrepresented defendant that she would be placed on $50,000 signed bail with one surety and needed to surrender her travel documents.

She is scheduled to return to court on June 14, 2013.