In Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon, Cliff John was accused of putting a knife to his girlfriend’s throat while at a bar in Virgin Gorda on May 24.
He denied the allegations during his initial police interview, but he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threatening language, and damaging property,according to the Crown.
The defendant, the complainant and her friend were playing dominoes at the Sunset Bar shortly before the incident,Crown Counsel Annjel Flax Solomon alleged. The two women went into the bathroom, and after they came out the defendant approached his girlfriend, demanding to know what the two spoke about, the court heard. Ms. Flax Solomon said Mr. John then pulled a knife on his girlfriend and held it to her throat, threatening to harm her.
The prosecutor asked Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin to restrict Mr. John from directly or indirectly contacting the alleged victim; to have him removed from employment at the bar where they both work; and to report to the Virgin Gorda Police Station twice a week.
The defence, led by Patrick Thompson, said Mr. John is a welder with two children, aged 11 and 2, and that he has been living and working in the Virgin Islands for a year. He added that the defendant has no issues finding new employment, or new accommodation away from his girlfriend, with whom he currently resides.
Ms. Benjamin ordered Mr. John to surrender his passport, to report to the VG Police Station three times a week, and to refrain from direct and indirect contact with his girlfriend.
She granted him bail of $60,000 with surety to appear before court on July 30.