Alleged East Arm gun toting granny faces court on assault charges

AN alleged gun toting granny has faced court accused of threatening people while armed with a weapon at East Arm in February

AN alleged gun toting granny has faced court accused of threatening people while armed with a weapon at East Arm in February.

Lorraine Mortina Welch’s lawyer, Robert Welfare, successfully applied for an adjournment in the Darwin Local Court on Monday but his request for her to be excused from attending at the directions hearing was denied.

Mr Welfare said Welch had suffered broken ribs in the altercation on February 19 and needed to “attend to medical things” as a result.

“She’s here today — she’s going to the doctor’s straight after,” he said.

But judge Greg Cavanagh said unless Welch could produce medical certificates indicating she was too unwell to attend court she would be required to answer her bail.

Lorraine Mortina Welch, 75, outside the Darwin Local Court on Monday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“These are serious matters and turning up to bail is not optional,” he said.

“If you’ve got medical certificates saying she can’t turn up, fair enough, until that time she’s bailed until the 7th of May at 2 o’clock and she must attend.”

Welch is facing four counts of aggravated assault and one count each of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, possessing a firearm and failing to meet storage requirements.

At the time the charges were laid, a police spokeswoman said officers were called to the East Arm boat ramp at about 11.20pm following reports of a person in possession of a firearm “making threats to people in the area”.

“Shortly after the call, police located a 75-year-old female and a firearm allegedly involved in the incident,” she said.

HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1

Welch was arrested shortly afterwards nearby, where she was believed to have been camping.

Follow @jas_walls