Nyron A. Erickson being detained unlawfully- Attorney Hugh Wildman
According to Mr Wildman, he cannot understand why the magistrate Stephen C.J. Julien has been unable to make a ruling on the No Case Submissions presented and why Mr Erickson is being denied bail in the interim.
A total of twenty-one charges were laid before the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 25, 2023, against Nyron Erickson, who was arrested on his return from the US where he was extradited and subsequently freed of money laundering charges.
‘There is no evidence’ against Erickson- Lawyer
According to Mr Wildman, he has been representing Mr Erickson since around June 2024 in an ongoing committal procedure before the Magistrate’s Court.
The lawyer said he indicated “from day one” that the legal team intended to make seven submissions for the case to be thrown out for “there is no evidence” against Mr Erickson.
He said the magistrate, Mr Stephen C.J. Julien had indicated that submissions should be put in writing and submitted to the DPP’s office, which was done. A date in July was then set for the matter to be heard, “for the submissions to be determined.”
“When the matter came up in July, the DDP’s Office was not ready. We were ready and raring to go and they were not ready, because we believe that those submissions were unanswerable in law.”
Telephone evidence inadmissible- Hugh Wildman
The lawyer said one of the submissions that can’t be denied is that according to the Evidence Act of the VI, which governs the admissibility of ‘hearsay evidence’, telephone evidence is not admissible, and this has been previously upheld by the Privy Council. He said this argument recently resulted in four men being acquitted of a murder charge in the VI.
Mr Wildman related that a further extension was granted for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) to put in submissions and that that the DDP was late in putting in its response but, nonetheless, “we were able to do a quick rebuttal of those submissions.”
Magistrate reportedly delays ruling; bail for Erickson refused
The matter was then set for September 26, 2024; however, when the lawyers showed up for court, the magistrate “gave some explanation why he can’t deliver the judgement.”
Wildman said the magistrate was told that if he is unable to deliver judgement then his client should then be entitled to bail.
He said “no clear reason” was given for bail being refused for Mr Erickson.
The matter was adjourned to October 8, 2024, but the date was then changed to the 25th, “And then the 25th come again, he is not ready.”
Mr Wildman said he did not want to say what it was, but it seemed to be a “deliberate attempt to keep Mr Erickson in custody.
He said Mr Erickon still being in custody is a breach of his constitutional right.
The lawyer added that he does not understand why the magistrate remains unable to make a ruling and why the DDP “does not throw in the towel” and say they don’t have a case against Mr Erickson.
Mr Wildman also said if the situation continues his legal team will have to exercise the option of Judicial Review but also pointed out that the family of Mr Erickson could petition the Chief Justice to intervene.
Meanwhile, efforts to get a response from the DDP were unsuccessful up to the time of publication.
23 Responses to “Nyron A. Erickson being detained unlawfully- Attorney Hugh Wildman”
S** is just another BVI Lander is another Nepotism position. All book sense no common sense!
No one went to arrest him he gave himself up to be locked in. why are you running? He has to know.