Mother and boyfriend charged in connection with death of four-year-old Bella Walker

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Darion Smith, 33, and Ostonya Walker, 29, the mother of four-year-old D’Onya “Bella” Walker, who died last Friday as a result of blunt force trauma, were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The pair appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt. Prosecutors alleged that on November 5, Smith intentionally and unlawfully caused the […]

TWO YEARS LATER: Police to probe lead investigator in Gibson bribery trial

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police have launched an investigation into Superintendent Debra Thompson, the lead investigator in the bribery trial of former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Cabinet Minister Shane Gibson. Gibson’s lawyer, Owen Wells, confirmed to Eyewitness News that he and his client met with Police Commissioner Paul Rolle and Assistant Commissioner Craig Stubbs on Friday. […]

19-year-old woman apparently choked in viral video charged with assault of police

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 19-year-old woman who was seen being choked and strangled on a viral video this week has been charged with assault and obstruction of two police officers. Treasure Torrelli and her boyfriend, Charlton Deal, 24, appeared before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt Evans yesterday. Deal is charged with seven counts in total, including one […]

Attorney one step closer to day in court with suit against Magistrate Carloyn Vogt-Evans

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Supreme Court judge yesterday ruled that attorney Romona Farquharson’s lawsuit against Magistrate Carloyn Vogt-Evans, who found her guilty of contempt of court in March 2017 after a heated exchange, will proceed to trial. The ruling handed down Wednesday dealt with the judge’s application to have Farquharson’s amended statement of claim and […]

NOTICE OF APPEAL: Govt to contest Supreme Court ruling that invalidates VBIs signed by assistant DPP

Ruling could effectively nullify any voluntary bill of indictment signed by David Bakibinga NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Attorney General Ryan Pinder confirmed yesterday that the director of public prosecutions (DPP) has filed a notice of appeal against a recent Supreme Court ruling that found a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) signed by Assistant Director of Public […]

Man who took $872 in ‘mutilated’ BSD to Central Bank given conditional discharge

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Leslie Hendrick Bodie, 50, was given a conditional discharge when he appeared in a Magistrate’s Court just over two weeks ago charged with stealing by finding $872 “mutilated” Bahamian notes in September. While the arraignment took place on September 30, the case went viral on social media yesterday, but conflated the sum […]

‘I’M NOT CRAZY’: Court orders psych evaluation for man who took sledgehammer to Columbus statue

Man who referred to himself as “Michael the Archangel” claims he was touched by the Holy Spirit Matter adjourned to November 15 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Shervandaze “Archangel” Smith insisted in court yesterday that he was in his right mind when he took a sledgehammer to the Christopher Columbus statue on the grounds of Government House […]

Man accused of stealing 55 FNM posters valued at $495

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 41-year-old man yesterday pleaded not guilty to stealing 55 Free National Movement (FNM) posters valued at $495 in the Mount Moriah constituency over the weekend. Matthew Oman Sandilands, of Melvern Road, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville. Prosecutors allege that between August 20 and August 22, Sandilands stole the “It’s about your […]

TWO YEARS BEHIND BARS: Jamaican men jailed for drug bust; pair tells court they did it for their families

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Two Jamaican men found with over 92 pounds of marijuana were yesterday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for possession of a dangerous drug with intent to supply. When Damond Shawn, 44, and Daniel Grant, 24, were arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday morning, they each pleaded guilty to one count of possession […]

COMPENSATION UPPED: $750,000 awarded to Kenyan taxi driver falsely detained for seven years

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Court of Appeal yesterday awarded Kenyan national Douglas Ngumi, who was unlawfully detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre for nearly seven years, three-quarters of a million dollars —$109,000 more than the Supreme Court awarded. In their ruling, Court of Appeal Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Milton Evans and Jon Isaacs increased […]