USVI resident recalls robbery incident in Baugher’s Bay

Deshaun Matthew makes his way inside the High Court. (Photo: Fareeza Haniff)

A visitor who was allegedly robbed and beaten during his stay in the British Virgin Islands, testified in the High Court this afternoon, Monday February 20 and recalled the details of his alleged attack on the evening of December 4, 2009.

The Virtual Complainant (VC), Franklin Montgomery Junior testified against the accused Deshaun Matthew and told the court that he was attacked from behind and sustained a bloody eye. According to Montgomery, he was attacked by a ‘couple of young men’ who stole his two GUCCI Gold Chains and pendants.

Matthew is charged with robbery, theft and handling stolen goods. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is being represented by Herbert McKenzie, while the Crown is being represented by Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham. High Court Judge, Justice Rita Joseph – Olivetti is presiding over the trial.

Montgomery of St. John, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) took the witness stand and told the court that on the evening of December 4, sometime after 9pm, he was walking to his friend’s house in Baugher’s Bay, when he was attacked and robbed.

Montgomery said that he was walking home from a bar in Baugher’s Bay when the incident occurred. He said that he was hanging out with some of his friends at the bar, playing dominoes. Montgomery told the court that he had a few beers.

According to Montgomery, he has been familiar with the BVI for 23 years and would usually stay a friend’s house whenever he is visiting. 

When questioned by Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham, Montgomery said, “I was walking by myself heading home and I got jumped… I was walking and I got hit above the right eye with an object…my eye was bloody and I got attacked from behind… I was attacked by several guys…”

Montgomery testified that he did not recognise any of the men, who attacked him. He said the attack lasted for a “couple of minutes.”

“We had a struggle and I got on the ground and once I went on the ground that was it… I was kicked and hit. That was all I recalled… I got up and…. I didn’t see anyone. Everyone had left.
According to Montgomery, after his attackers fled the scene, he got up and realized that his chains were missing. He said that a ‘taxi guy’ eventually took him to the Peebles Hospital where he was admitted for the night.

The GUCCI chains were admitted into evidence at the trial and the VC was not cross examined by Matthew’s lawyer.

During his opening remarks to members of the jury this afternoon, Senior Crown Counsel Graham told the jurors that the GUCCI gold chains and pendants were recovered at Matthew’s residence in Baugher’s Bay by the police, during the execution of a search warrant.

“Our case is that Matthew was among the group of young men who robbed Franklin Montgomery… the Police searched Matthew’s residence and found two gold chains…we say that these are the same gold chains that was robbed from Franklin Montgomery,” Graham said.

The Senior Crown Counsel explained that the VC is not familiar with the accused and that he does not know the identity of any of his attackers. However, according to Graham, the finding of the gold chains at the residence is no coincidence.

The trial will continue tomorrow morning in the High Court at 9:30 am.