The British singer Amy Winehouse is on a trip to Norway today, but it is not a pleasure trip. The often-troubled 25 year-old singer has a court date in Bergen today concerning her appeal against charges of drug possession stemming back to 2007.
In October 2007, Winehouse and her husband were arrested in Bergen for possessing seven grams (0.25 ounces) of marijuana. They were both held in detention overnight, and then released after paying a fine of USD 415 each. But Winehouse later filed an appeal against the fine, claiming that the Norwegian police made several mistakes during the arrest.
Since the fines were so small, Winehouse is surely appealing the case in a bid to have the charges erased from her record. According to her Norwegian attorney, Ole Kvelstad, by paying the fine she basically pleaded guilty to the charges of drug possession. This charge could make it nearly impossible to get a visa to enter the United States.
Winehouse learned firsthand the impacts of the drug charge when she was denied a US visa to perform at the Grammy awards ceremony in 2008. Ironically, Winehouse ended up winning five Grammys for her album “Rehab” but due to her issues with drugs and alcohol was not allowed into the US to accept her awards.
She will have to appeal the case in person, according to police prosecutor Rudolf Christoffersen. “She is the one who appealed, so that makes it her appeal,” Christoffersen told the Associated Press by telephone. “Often, if you don’t appear at your own appeal hearing, then the court will dismiss the appeal.”
She is not above the law. Good luck to her with the case.