Boat owner charged in Frandie's death probe is son-in-law of wealthy British Lord
In the accident that also injured locals who were reportedly rendered no assistance, another expat Andrew S. Morrell was charged with Manslaughter and Causing Serious Injury to a Person while on Board a Vessel; along with Failing to Render Assistance after a Collision.
Graham Stanton reportedly took control of the vessel and fled the scene with his family after the impact caused his young children - then aged six and eight - to be thrown into the sea.
It is claimed that Stanton did not realise anyone else had been thrown overboard after he rescued his children from the water and thought the powerboat was drifting abandoned.
Stanton is only charged with 'Failing to Render Assistance after a Collision'.
According to reports, Stanton's wife Sophie, 44, is the daughter of Tory peer Ian Macpherson, and holds the title of Lord Strathcarron.
Tragic boat accident
The tragic boat accident occurred around 6:30 PM near Prospect Reef on Saturday, October 16, 2021, and involved a Contender powerboat and a 40-foot Sunseeker yacht named Blue Bayou, which the Stanton's had recently purchased.
According to reports, the yacht allegedly collided with the small powerboat with about three persons on board, almost cutting the powerboat in half.
Out of the three passengers on the powerboat, Mr Frandy Martin Jr, suffered severe injuries and later died. The other two persons on the powerboat were taken to Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital in the capital city, Road Town where they underwent treatment.
Our newsroom was told that several persons on the Sunseeker yacht also suffered minor injuries, and two reportedly required medical attention.
According to the Mirror, Stanton's boat, Blue Bayou, has since been repainted and renamed after the incident.
Crime coverup?
In April 2022, some months after the fatal accident, Commissioner of Police Mark Collins confirmed that police never received the test result of a medical urine sample belonging to Andrew S. Morrell from the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, even after the results of the sample have been requested by the force.
Since coverage by the UK press, the RVIPF and its commissioner Collins are now coming under increasing scrutiny over the handling of the case involving the wealthy expats and whether enough was done by police to ensure justice is served.
Mr Stanton who moved to the [British] Virgin Islands in 2019 after setting up a financial technology business, was placed on a $30,000 cash bail and allowed to keep his travel documents after he was determined to not be a flight risk by Senior Magistrate Tamia N. Richards.
Court refuses request to dismiss case
It was on January 25, 2023, that attorney Gareth Timms, who represents Stanton, had asked unsuccessfully for the case to be dismissed after arguing that the proceedings were “inefficient” and that his client didn’t receive all the evidence from the prosecution.
The magistrate had said the case should not be dismissed so early as it was a fairly new matter and also gave the Crown the opportunity to make further disclosure to the defence.
Full disclosure is set for March 2, 2023.
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52 Responses to “Boat owner charged in Frandie's death probe is son-in-law of wealthy British Lord”
"If another vessel is approaching you from the port — or left — side of your boat, you have the right of way and should maintain your speed and direction. 2. If a vessel is aiming to cross your path and they're on your starboard — or right — side, they have the right of way".
The prosecution is only going ahead because the defendants are white and/or not from here - none of the boat accidents involving locals ever end up in Court.
No charges against the guy that killed the young woman and child at Little Thatch a few month ago. He was driving too fast and lost control of the boat. flipped it over when there was no other boat close by.
I've heard some lunacy in my day but this beats all.
A**** M*** is a racist piece of S**T! Knowing him for years thinks the Black people here are not even humans. He left F***** there like a dog or any other animal. He didn't give a rat's a$$ because he hit Black people. I hope he gets that smug ugly smirk on his face knocked off.
Shut you h**ky sq**t.
Unlit boat hit bayou at speed when it should not have gone near.
Bayou cpt observed immediate danger to life and acted accordingly.
Justice for frandie would be to prosecute the cpt of yeye.
Barge that run over tourist in VG trunk. All hush hush till white man fault …
my goodness
He rescued his family you dumb@$%s!!????????????
What happen with the one where snorkellers were run over and die at Guana Island?
What happened to the one where the snorkeller was run over and die by Spanish town
What did the captain get who ran over the fisherman in Road Harbour and died?
What happened with the one that ran over a small boat in North Sound?
Go read up on the past accidents done by mostly professional BVI captains before commenting on this one and what should be done.
WTF? Powerful forces are at work here. Ever Vigilant!
Her injuries were life threatening.
The survivors from both vessels have to live with the scars of this tragedy for life. My prayers are with you all.