DRUG TRIAL OF WOMAN, 65, DELAYED

PORTSMOUTH -- Zula Mae Green is getting older. So is the drug charge
against her. She was 62 in September 2000 when, according to court records,
police found her in bed with a sheet covering her feet -- and more than
four grams of crack cocaine in baggies.

Now, she is almost 65, one of the oldest women charged with drug
trafficking locally in the past 10 years.

Since May, her health has caused her to miss three court dates. Before
that, her Circuit Court trial was rescheduled at least four times because
of her lawyer's legislative privilege.

On Monday, Green's day in court was delayed again.

Her attorney, Del. Kenneth R. Melvin, D-Portsmouth, had a last-minute
meeting with legislators before the General Assembly session's opening on
Wednesday.

"This is one of those cases, by luck of the draw, the meetings popped up on
the days that were selected," Melvin said. He added, "She had a stroke. I
can't control that. . . . I'm trying to get this done as fast as I can."

Prosecutor Andrew M. Robbins said he had no problem with the most recent
delay, but he said he will contest further attempts to put off the trial
based on Green's health.

"The evidence is, this lady was dealing drugs out of this building," said
Robbins, an assistant commonwealth's attorney. "If I reasonably believe
she's guilty -- and I do -- it's my responsibility to prosecute her,
however long it takes."

Green and three others were arrested in 2000 for drug trafficking after
police executed a search warrant on the Charleston Avenue house where she
was living. The house had served as an adult assisted-living facility,
Melvin said.

Officers found more than nine grams of crack cocaine, one capsule of heroin
and a crack pipe, according to court records.

Green was in bed when an officer saw her. He found cash and a box under the
sheet with her, court records show.

Green grabbed the box, and when officers took it away, they found 39
baggies of cocaine valued at $390, the records show.

Investigators were told that Green knew about a drug operation in the house
and helped by monitoring a police scanner, court records show.

Green has no prior criminal record. She referred questions for this story
to her attorney.

She was born in Williamston, N.C., and when she was arrested, she was
employed by a company that provided "foster adult home care," records show.

Three men -- who were then 44, 45, and 48 -- also were charged with
possessing or trafficking cocaine in the bust on the Charleston Avenue house.

Two have pleaded guilty, and the third was convicted of an amended felony
drug charge. By June 2001, all three had been sentenced to either prison or
probation.

At that time, Green's case already had been delayed three times -- all
because of Melvin's legislative privilege. Legislator-lawyers can invoke a
Virginia law intended to prevent them from being summoned to court, away
from their work for the commonwealth.

Last fall, Melvin asked prosecutors to drop charges against Green because
of her health, and, according to court records, a doctor said having to
stand trial would not be good for her.

The doctor said Green suffered from neurological problems and muscle
weakening due to a stroke, Melvin said. She also has diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and hardening arteries, he said.

"She's in a bad way in terms of her health," Melvin said.

The doctor later told Robbins, the prosecutor, that Green was "ambulatory."

Robbins refused to drop the charge. "To me," he said, "that means she can
come to court and sit at a table."

On Monday, Green's case was rescheduled for late March.

She will be the fourth-oldest woman to be prosecuted for drug trafficking
in Hampton Roads since 1992, according to court data.

The oldest was a 72-year-old woman who was charged with distributing
marijuana. She was convicted in Suffolk Circuit Court in 2000.