‘Powerful’ BVI landlord threatens to get Vincentian deported, court hears

DEVYE NICHOLSON, a Vincentian who is residing in the BVI, has told the court there that her former landlord — who she claims is ‘well-connected’ in the territory — threatened to cause her to lose her employment and subsequently deported over a tussle.

According to Digicel BVI News, the tussle resulted in Nicholson being charged with common assault and threatening language.

Her matter went to trial after she pleaded not guilty to the offences which allegedly occurred on July 28, 2018.

On Tuesday, the Crown wrapped up its case against Nicholson when it called its final witness — the investigating officer, Phillip Matthias.

He testified that he was stationed at the Road Town Police Station on the day in question when he was made aware of a report of an assault in Baughers Bay.

Upon arrival, he said, he met the complainant — the landlord — along with her husband on the scene. The complainant told him of the alleged assault, and he noticed that she had a red substance, which appeared to be blood on her right knee, elbow, arm and palm.

Officer Matthias told the court that he capture photos of the suspected injuries on his smartphone.

The officer said the complainant (the landlord), said Nicholson beat and choked her with a hose.

According to Officer Matthias, the landlord had also claimed that Nicholson, using expletives asked the landlord how he got so miserable and threatened to break her neck.

He told the court that he visited the second floor of the apartment building, where Nicholson lived with her children, but she was not home.

Her children informed him that she had gone to a laundry where he subsequently met her and invited her to the Road Town Police Station for an interview, to which she complied.

Officer Matthias said there were no cameras installed on the property, and there were no eyewitnesses to the incident.

The Police officer testify ed that Nicholson said she was at her home on the day in question cleaning her apartment and the verandah where the landlord’s cat had urinated.

While there, the landlord came from upstairs and after speaking to the accused to cease from using the cleaning detergents, as it would affect her plants on the ground floor the two then began to tussle over the hose.

During the tussle, Nicholas allegedly proceeded to release her end of the hose to prevent her from falling which, in turn, resulted in the landlord falling to the ground. The officer told the court that the landlord had to seek medical attention for her injuries.

Nicholson, who is employed in the medical profession, chose to give evidence in her own defence. She testified that she never touched or choked the landlord, nor did she threaten her.

She said the injuries the landlord sustained happened after she tumbled down the stairs.

Nicholson said the landlord told her that she was a member of a prominent family in the British Virgin Islands and that she had influence throughout the territory.

The accused woman further said the landlord told her that she could cause her to become unemployed, and sent out of the BVI as she was the sister of a well-known legislator.

A crying Nicholson said it was then that the landlord concocted the story that she (Nicholson) assaulted and used threatening language to her.

She said that she was evicted from her apartment and that the landlord came to her job to spread lies about her. She said her lawyer Valerie Stephens-Gordon had to write the landlord a letter to put a stop to the harassment.

“I was really shaken up, losing a job on lies is not fair,” she said. However, she did not lose her employment.

The matter is adjourned to March 3.