Photo Credit: Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News
Photo Credit: Clifton Skelton/BVI Platinum News
Shawn Scatliffe was remanded to prison today, July 9 for allegedly threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend after he was ordered to stay away from her by the court in March of this year.
Scatliffe pleaded not guilty to four counts of threatening language and guilty to insulting language.
Prosecutor Jude Hanley said that the complainant is age 19 and she was in a relationship with Scatliffe from 2010; however, it came to an end last year.
Hanley said in March of this year, Scatliffe was charged with several offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the same complainant. She said one of the bail conditions was for him to stay away from the complainant, which he has allegedly breached.
According to the allegations, the complainant, who is a Dominica native, went home to her Nottingham Estate apartment when Scatliffe ran out of the nearby bushes and told her that if she does not take him back he will end her life.
The Prosecutor said during the same month, Scatliffe sent text messages to the young lady's phone on a number of occasions. In one of the text messages, Scatliffe allegedly stated, "If I can't have you, no one else can get you. I will send you home back in a body bag".
Hanley said in another text, he allegedly stated that he will tie a rope around her neck and hang her.
The Prosecutor said those text messages were as a result of the young lady not answering his calls.
Hanley said the complainant is extremely fearful for her life and though she is paying rent, she has resorted to spending time at another apartment.
Further, Hanley told the court that numerous reports were made to the Police and Scatliffe was warned.
On July 1 he called her and she did not answer and this resulted in him calling her from an unknown number. This time she answered, not knowing that it was him. Hanley said Scatliffe then told her, "If you don't answer I will come up to your apartment and cut you up."
Hanley said Scatliffe told her that this time he is serious.
On July 4, he sent her another text message which read, "[Expletives] you [expletives]. You need help, you look [expletives] up today".
The Prosecutor said the crown objects to him being granted bail.
Scatliffe's lawyer, Mary Lou Creque during her application for bail said though she recognizes the seriousness of the allegations, that is what they are, allegations.
She said that her client has stated that he did not trouble the young lady. She said he is the father of five children and provides for them. The lawyer briefly commented that the complainant tells her client one thing and then tells the Police another thing.
Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens said Scatliffe has a serious pattern of behavior since he has another case involving another young lady and he breached the bail condition of staying away from her also.
Lawyer Creque then told the court that the complainants are extremely complicit. However, the Senior Magistrate said the victims are not the one in the dock.
The Magistrate said she will not grant Scatliffe bail and set both of his cases for hearing on July 12.
