Facing deportation to South Africa, an alleged Prince George gangster won something of a break in provincial court this week but it likely will not be enough to keep him in the country.
Crown counsel issued stays of proceedings Wednesday on seven firearms-related charges Francois (Frankie) Meerholz was facing after a police pulled over a vehicle in October 2009 that he and two others were occupying and found a gun.
Similar charges against Peter Maclaurin Tunney and Albert Donald Piche were also stayed.
"The Crown ultimately concluded that there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove that any one of them was in possession individually and they can't be found collectively responsible," said B.C. criminal justice branch spokesperson Neil MacKenzie.
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