"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
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. …
Continue reading “At trial, premier says Najan Christopher was ‘misguided’ but ‘trying her best’”
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: After scathing security review, UK and VI leaders must step up”
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, …
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 …
Continue reading “Criminal filings launched on digital court platform”
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 …
Continue reading “Festival committee treasurer charged with theft”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “After 6 years on remand, woman cleared of murders”
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 …
Continue reading “Erickson accused of helping run 2021 drug ring from HM Prison”
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 …
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, …
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 …
Continue reading “Trio charged for guns after Spooners searches”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Woman granted $15k bail after theft charge”
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 …
Continue reading “Man could face life in prison for two arson charges”
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 …
Continue reading “Standing Finance Committee: Relocating Magistrates’ Court would cost $168k”
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 …
Continue reading “Ex-teacher apologises for making student gargle rubbing alcohol”
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 …
Continue reading “Man accused of beating girlfriend granted $25,000 bail”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Magistrates’ Court still holding hearings remotely”
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 …
Continue reading “VG man found guilty of breaking cop car windshield”
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 …
Continue reading “$1 million approved for stopgap court work”
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 …
Shemar Richardson, 24, of Gene Hill, was denied bail and remanded to prison on April 23 after being charged with robbery in relation to a stick-up in Paraquita Bay that …