UPDATE: Backtracking Juror in Fahie's trial sticks with guilty verdict
![Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys involved in the recent high-profile trial of former [British] Virgin Islands Premier Andrew A. Fahie return to the courtroom today, March 7, 2024, when it is expected a legal solution to the post-trial drama will be resolved. Photo: VINO/File](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_i_IMG_7720_06.JPG)
One of the two jurors, Sabrina Garcia appeared in court this morning and when asked again by Judge Williams what her verdict was, she repeated her original decision of guilty.
The other jury that was also subpoenaed to appear in court this morning could not be found according to a Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) correspondent who attended the court hearing this morning.
It is now unclear the way forward when the other juror is found as Mr Fahie who appeared in court this morning was remanded back to Federal prison.
We will keep our readers updated as this case unfolds.
See the Previous story published this morning, March 7, 2024
Attorneys for Andrew A. Fahie return to courtroom today over jurors’ backtracking
- US District Judge Kathleen M. Williams hoping federal prosecutors & defense attorneys will help her find a solution
MIAMI, Florida, USA- Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys involved in the recent high-profile trial of former [British] Virgin Islands Premier Andrew A. Fahie return to the courtroom today, March 7, 2024, when it is expected a legal solution to the post-trial drama will be resolved.
Mr Fahie was scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2024, after he was convicted on February 8 after a trial that lasted eight days, with the 12-member jury returning guilty verdicts of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, attempted money laundering, and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering.
But in an unusual situation, two of the jurors- a man and a woman- contacted the judge to say they did not actually agree with the guilty verdicts, presenting a rare predicament on whether or not a jury’s verdict stands if members later recant their on-the-record position.
‘Unusual case’- Judge Kathleen M. Willims
“From the start, this has been an unusual case in many respects,” U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams had said Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the end of a court hearing.
Williams, expressing frustration over finding a legal basis to resolve the verdict problem, called their discussions “meaningful.” But she pressed both sides to continue examining past cases in South Florida and around the country to help her reach a “just solution.”
The court hearing today is slated for 10:00 AM.
See related articles below:
Fahie writes to court asking for it to determine whether jurors gave ‘their’ verdicts
2 jurors in Andrew A. Fahie’s trial change their minds about guilty verdict!
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57 Responses to “ UPDATE: Backtracking Juror in Fahie's trial sticks with guilty verdict”
my people pray for me
A small “g” in god is an idol.
I wished we could see a photo what he looks like now rather than those nice posh GIS photos
BY JAY WEAVER
MARCH 07, 2024 12:45 PM
https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article286377260.html
Andrew Alturo Fahie, former premier of the British Virgin Islands, was convicted in February 2024 in a cocaine trafficking trial in Miami. On Thursday, March 7, 2024, a Miami judge allowed the guilty verdict to stand after questioning a juror. BVI Government
In a rare move, a judge subpoenaed two jurors who expressed some misgivings after a Miami federal jury voted unanimously to convict former British Virgin Islands premier Andrew Fahie of drug trafficking a month ago.
On Thursday, one showed up in the judge’s courtroom, but the other did not.
In a series of short questions, U.S District Judge Kathleen Williams asked the one juror whether her guilty verdicts at the end of Fahie’s Feb. 8 trial were actually her decision. The female juror’s response: “Yes.”
With that answer, Williams allowed the 12-person jury’s guilty verdicts to stand, leaving Fahie vulnerable to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison on the main charge of conspiring to import cocaine through the British territory into the United States. Fahie, 53, was also found guilty of three other charges involving money laundering and racketeering. His sentencing is set for April 29 in Miami federal court.
“I think we’re done,” Williams told both federal prosecutors and defense attorneys, ending a month-long controversy over the jury’s unanimous guilty verdicts. “There is no room at all to maneuver.”
Williams also said she would not make a renewed effort to bring the other subpoenaed juror into her courtroom for questioning, as she described him as “elusive.” Williams said that of the two jurors in question, he was a “lesser player” because he did not hesitate like the other one had when they were polled by the judge on their original guilty verdicts.
The unusual dispute surfaced just after the jurors found Fahie guilty last month and the judge polled each of them on their verdicts before discharging them. Within minutes of being let go, two of the jurors contacted the judge’s office to say they had second thoughts about their verdicts.
Federal prosecutors Kevin Gerarde and Sean McLaughin argued the judge should stick to the original unanimous verdicts, contending there was no legal basis to bring the two jurors back into court to question them. The prosecutors pointed out there was no evidence of a verdict mistake, internal or external pressure on the jury, or racist attitudes toward the defendant.
Defense attorneys Theresa Van Vliet and Joyce Delgado countered that, despite constitutional limits on questioning a jury about deliberations, there was no reason why the two jurors with doubts about their verdicts could not be polled again by the judge.
In the end, the judge found herself bound by legal precedent to let the verdicts stand, after questioning the one juror on Thursday. “I think it was important to brief this matter,” Williams said. “I think it was important to be transparent.”
home prison life …he did the crime he will do the time right where is is at!!!!
Island ran by a league of incompetent inbred local clowns who are put into power by a majority of local inbred clowns whose brains don’t possess one iota of common sense.
thats where the birds fly...
airplanes that drop bales...fly by
Tola man broke? thats a damn lie
Who says he’ll get ten? Ten is the
Minimum he can get on the conspiracy charge. It can go up to life. So while we don’t know how many years he’ll have to do, we
Know for sure ain’t going be under 10
Others from around here doing time in state fed who actually got caught with bales ain’t even get crack ten years but the all took dealssssss lol
hope he rots in prison.
The US judicial system is nothing to be toyed with. The things you could do here and get away with, don't try that $#¡t in the US. Best wishes to him. Hopefully he uses this time to retreat and repent for his actions.
“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 8:7
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.
Andrew ,Fahie deserves maximum.of 20 years inclusive of all charges.
He has been on the USA's watch.list for years but neglected to practice humility specifically in his interactions with Jaspert. When u wrong and strong ting does reveal.
Mocking God too? No words!
But worse of all Mocking God all these years.
Head leader of these VI, he has done irreparable damage to its people