A hunting rifle that belongs to the father of convicted Yellowknife drug dealer Norman Hache has been returned to its rightful owner.
Denis Hache appeared in Supreme Court in Yellowknife Thursday arguing that he lent the 20-year-old Winchester rifle to his son to go hunting and that it should be returned to him.
It was seized by RCMP when Norman Hache was arrested in 2016 and has remained with the Mounties ever since.
Judge Andrew Maher said in court that the rifle was not used in the commission of any crimes and it is owned by Denis Hache so it should be returned by RCMP to him.
It’s believed Mounties will continue to hold the rifle for 30 days to make sure there are no further claims to its ownership.
The Crown had argued that Norman Hache had agreed to the forfeiture of the rifle in an agreed statement of facts that he signed prior to his sentencing three years ago.
The gun, two vehicles and a snowmobile were seized by RCMP when drug trafficking charges were laid against Norman Hache.
Denis Hache said in court Thursday that a 1999 pickup truck belonging to him had also been lent to Norman but gave up his challenge to have it returned testifying it wasn’t worth it and he didn’t want it anymore.
Arlene Hache, Denis’ wife, also Norman Hache’s mother, told CKLB that they argued for the return of the pickup on principle.
At a hearing earlier this month Arlene told the judge that a seized 2010 Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belongs to her.
She will argue in court to get it back when the forfeiture hearing is to resume on April 9.
Arlene Hache also told CKLB that she understands that the snowmobile belonging to her son has already been ordered returned to Norman, but adds she doesn’t know why it hasn’t been returned yet.
CKLB asked her why she thought Norman agreed to the forfeiture prior to his sentencing.
“Wouldn’t you if you were facing ten years in jail?” she responded.
Norman Hache pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in 2017 and received a five-year sentence.
It is believed he is now out on parole.
