Two women on drug charges

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 5

Two women on drug charges

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) LONDON.

Drug squad officers found a smallbore rifle in an early-morning search of a pop star’s $300,000 mansion, and in a mortar and pestle beside a king-size double bed, they saw a minute trace of cocaine, a jury at Kingston Crown Court, Surrey, was told.

In the bed, detectives found Kristine Wood, wife of the Faces group lead guitarist, Ronnie Wood, and the song writer, Audrey Burgon, the prosecution alleged. Mrs Wood, aged 27, of the Wick, Richmond Hill, Surrey, and Miss Burgon, aged 28, of London, both deny possessing the drug. Mrs Wood also denies possessing 51 milligrams of cannabis.

Sir Peter Rawlinson, Q.C., defending, told the jury that they would hear of matrimonial difficulties between Mrs Wood and her pop star husbands

Detective Sergeant Edward Ellison said Mrs Wood was charged with possessing the rifle without a certificate and would be tried at a later date for this offence. Under cross-examination, he said detectives had expected to find other people as well as the two women in the house — once owned by the actor, John Mills,

Detective Sergeant Ellison said the bed was stripped and searched while Mrs Wood and Miss Burgon dressed. Brass knobs from the bedstead were taken away for examination.

Detective Sergeant Ellison denied claims that drugsquad officers played drums and switched on juke boxes during the search. Detective Constable Eleanor McCowan said that the two women were surprised naked in the double bed. “When Mrs Wood woke up, she was quite dazed. It was a rude awakening. The women sat in bed while we searched the room,” she said. She said she examined Mrs Wood’s arms for needle marks but found nothing. Trial was adjourned.