Eric Cameron, a citizen of the United States appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards on April 20, 2015 on a charge of grievous body harm after it was alleged that on Saturday April 18, 2015 he beat a man so severely that he ended up with serious injuries. Photo: VINO

The court heard that members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, while on a mobile patrol in Road Town, allegedly saw the defendant engaged in an altercation with the Virtual Complainant in a parking lot in the vicinity of Water Front Drive and Administration Drive in Road Town.

The court heard that the defendant was allegedly beating the Virtual Complainant with a blunt object. The Police intervened and separated both parties. The defendant was cautioned and placed in handcuffs. The VC was said to have a large wound to the head which appeared to be gushing blood. He was placed in a vehicle and rushed to the Peebles Hospital while the defendant was taken to the Road Town Police Station.

The court heard that Cameron was cautioned and informed that he was being arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution alleged that the two men had a dispute over money and that the defendant demanded money and hit the VC over the head. The defendant allegedly said, “You think I kidding? I gon kill you muddas***t.”

The defendant was charged on April 19, 2015 after refusing to be interviewed without a lawyer present. The prosecution said there was enough evidence to facilitate a paper committal for the proceedings to be sent to the High Court.

Cameron was said to be employed with an American security firm functioning as the driver of an armoured vehicle, the kind that transports large amounts of cash and valuables such as jewellery.

Little ties to VI

The Prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant is a citizen of the United States, a resident of the US Virgin Islands with little ties to the British Virgin Islands, even though he worked for about six years with the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services as a fireman. They also cited that because of the nature of his job with the American security firm he might have access to dangerous weapons.

However, Cameron told the court that as a driver for an armoured security vehicle he does not carry a weapon.

He further told the court that he was willing to surrender his passport to demonstrate that he would not be a flight risk. He said he was even willing to take up residence in the territory again so as to be allowed bail.

Cameron is to return to the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday April 29, 2015 when he would learn if his case is going over to the High Court for trial.