The first Speech from the Throne in two years emphasised the elected government’s determination to push ahead with the six broad goals laid out in the territory’s National Sustainable Development …
January 9, 2025
August 2, 2024
At trial, premier says Najan Christopher was ‘misguided’ but ‘trying her best’
When Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley took the stand last week in Najan Christopher’s criminal trial, her attorney asked him about the letter that landed Ms. Christopher before the court. …
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July 10, 2024
EDITORIAL: After scathing security review, UK and VI leaders must step up
Residents may be forgiven for feeling numb on the release of yet another scathing report about governance failings in the Virgin Islands. The 2022 Commission of Inquiry, the conviction of …
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June 6, 2024
Man charged for alleged machete attack
A Josiahs Bay man has been arrested and charged after wielding a machete and injuring another man during a fight over the weekend, police said. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, …
March 29, 2024
Criminal filings launched on digital court platform
In 2023, the Magistrates’ Court saw 229 new criminal matters, 233 traffic matters and 26 juvenile matters, according to Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards. “If these trends continue, we expect to …
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December 21, 2023
Festival committee treasurer charged with theft
The treasurer of the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee was charged last week with 16 counts of theft and one count of forgery, according to a five-sentence press release …
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December 21, 2023
Police refuse to name arrested official
A “senior government official” was arrested last week and charged with breach of trust in relation to an ongoing investigation within His Majesty’s Customs, police said. But you won’t read …
November 23, 2023
After 6 years on remand, woman cleared of murders
A woman who spent six years on remand at His Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut was found not guilty of two counts of murder relating to a pair of fatal …
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September 29, 2023
Erickson accused of helping run 2021 drug ring from HM Prison
After United States prosecutors decided to drop their four-year-old money-laundering case against Virgin Islander Nyron Erickson last month, he was released from house arrest on St. Thomas last week and …
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July 19, 2023
Man accused of stealing from boat at JVD
After a group of tourists enjoyed a day on Jost Van Dyke on July 5, they came back to their rented boat to find a man aboard filling his pockets …
June 7, 2023
Four DR men accused of illegal entry
Four Dominican Republic nationals charged with illegally entering the territory pleaded not guilty on May 23 in Magistrates’ Court. Magistrate Tamia Richards read the charges against Gerson Vidal Bonilla Nunez, …
June 1, 2023
Trio charged for guns after Spooners searches
Police arrested five people on May 25 after searching two homes in Spooners Estate and allegedly finding four guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Three of the five detainees …
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December 6, 2022
E-portal launches for Magistrates’ Court
The Virgin Islands is looking to the future with the launch of a new electronic portal to manage Magistrates’ Court documents. Legal professionals celebrated the launch during a press conference …
July 19, 2022
Bobby’s shooting suspect denied bail
Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin denied bail on June 27 for Michael Albert Hatchett, who faces three charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at his two brothers and their friend outside …
July 19, 2022
Bail continued in boating death case
Virgin Islands businessman Andy Morrell, who faces five charges in connection with a deadly boat crash last October, had his bail extended June 23 in Magistrates’ Court with a $100,000 …
April 21, 2022
Woman granted $15k bail after theft charge
Gladys Todman, of Baughers Bay, was granted bail of $15,000 with one signed surety after pleading guilty to one count of theft in Magistrates’ Court April 7. Magistrate Khadeen Palmer …
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February 4, 2022
Man could face life in prison for two arson charges
Alexander Jarvis was denied bail on Jan. 26 after being charged with two counts of arson for allegedly burning one man’s residence and another man’s auto-repair shop following a disagreement …
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January 27, 2022
Standing Finance Committee: Relocating Magistrates’ Court would cost $168k
For years, government has promised to construct a new Magistrates’ Court as the first phase of a larger “Halls of Justice” project, after understaffing and inadequate facilities at Johns Hole …
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December 9, 2021
Ex-teacher apologises for making student gargle rubbing alcohol
During a Tuesday sentencing hearing at Magistrates’ Court, attorney Valerie Gordon asked Magistrate Khadeen Palmer to forego a custodial sentence and impose a sentence of community service on former teacher …
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November 26, 2021
Man accused of beating girlfriend granted $25,000 bail
After a night of clubbing turned sour, a man left his girlfriend on the side of a road and later smashed her phone and beat her so hard her face …
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November 12, 2021
Two bailed for firearm and ammo charges
Lynette Sommersell and David Cummings were charged with carrying an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition following a Nov. 3 traffic stop, Magistrate Khadeen Palmer granted them bail of …
July 30, 2021
Magistrates’ Court still holding hearings remotely
After the Magistrates’ Court closed indefinitely on June 30 following a staff member testing positive for Covid-19, its Sakal Place offices reopened on July 12 with limited hours, but the …
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June 29, 2021
VG man found guilty of breaking cop car windshield
Following a trial on June 14, Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin found Elisha Barry guilty of possession of a controlled substance and criminal damage, charges that were laid after he was arrested …
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June 21, 2021
$1 million approved for stopgap court work
Cabinet recently approved the allocation of almost $1,100,000 over the next two years for temporary measures to address long-standing issues in the criminal justice system that have resulted in a …
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May 28, 2021
Cops testify as coke trial wraps up
On Tuesday, Crown Counsel Kael London, who is prosecuting four men charged with importing and intending to sell more than 307 kilograms of cocaine, called his last witness to the …