Pleasant Bridgewater appeared in court for the first time Wednesday. She is accused of being part of a plot to extort $25 million from actor John Travolta.
The proceedings drew a large crowd which focused most of its attention on the high-profile Bridgewater.
Bridgewater, 49, resigned from her position as Senator on Saturday. She was charged along with Tarino Lightbourne. Lightbourne, 47, is the paramedic who was with Travolta's 16-year-old son Jett on his way to the hospital, following a seizure at the Travolta's home in Grand Bahama on January 2nd.
The type of trial means that neither defendant will plead at this stage of the proceedings.
Bail was set at $50,000 for both defendants. In Lightbourne's case that includes daily visits to a Freeport Police station.
Bail was set at $50,000 for both defendants. In Lightbourne's case that includes daily visits to a Freeport Police station.
Prosecutors for the Attorney General said that Lightbourne lied about his address and was living out of his Ford Explorer. Lightbourne's defense said his wife had told him he could come home if released on bail.
The trial starts again on February 11th.
-Guardian and Tribune
Man convicted of killing 601 manager murdered
Ashley Seymour Newbold was found lying in the road near Toote Shop corner around 11pm Tuesday.
Newbold was convicted of the murder of Joy Cartwright, who was shot to death at her Sea Beach Estates home in 1996.
Newbold was sentenced to death but later released when the Court of Appeal ruled that evidence was used during his trial that should not have been.
His trial drew attention for many reasons, including testimony of Obafemi "Obie" Pindling involvement in the murder.
Public Prosecutions Director Bernard Turner said that as a defendant, Newbold's accusations had little chance of influencing the court.
Turner also said that his death would mean the end of the Cartwright case, which has been ongoing.
Newbold, who charges state that he carried out the crime while "being involved with another" was originally charged in 2001.
His death was the sixth homicide victim for the year, the fifth by gunfire.
-Guardian and Tribune
Man shot to death in front of his home
Ignaciao(Guardian) Igniaco (Tribune) Ivan Smith was shot to death just after he got home around 1.30 Wednesday morning.
According to police, the 32-year-old was shot outside his house, which is on Zion Boulevard near the A & S Restaurant. According to reports, Smith was shot several times. He died on his doorstep soon after he was shot.
-Guardian and Tribune
Man sentenced in high-profile drug case
Ian Porter was sentenced to 42 months (3 years, 6 months) in jail for his involvment in a 961-pound marijuana bust.
Porter, 37, has been in jail since he was deported from Jamaica last December.
Porter, also know as Irie, had his $100,000 bail revoked after leaving The Bahamas without permission. Porter must also pay a $50,000 fine or spend an added year in jail.
Darryl "Shabba" Saunders, who was a defendant in the case, was murdered last year. His mutilated body was found in the trunk of a burnt car on Marshall Road.
Another defendant, Derrick White, will present his defense on March 11.
-Guardian
Laws needed to protect animals
Humane Society Executive Director Stephen Turnquest said without new laws, his inspectors cannot do much to stop animal abuse.
Turnquest is asking for people like you to write to your Member of Parliament and urge them to move on the Animal Protection and Control Act and/or email Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham at hubertingraham@bahamas.gov.bs.
He said the Act, which is still in the draft stage, would provide legal guidelines for pet shops, guard-dog kennels, dog breeders and horse-buggy tour operators.
Turnquest said the most the Humane Society can do now is issue advice. Without laws to back them up, inspectors can't do much to stop pet stores for keeping birds in cramped cages or tour guides from keeping horses in nasty stables. He said that farms are also guilty of poor practices including keeping too many pigs in too small a space.
The legislation would raise penalties for mistreating animals from $150 fine - 3 months in jail to fines of between $5,000 to $10,000 and longer jail terms.
Turnquest said if laws said this is what a stable should look like, what a breeding kennel should look like, what pet store should look like, inspectors could enforce rather than advise.
-Tribune
Shelter planned for U.S. visa applicants
Public Works and Transport Minister Neko Grant said his ministry will build shelter for the people waiting for their US Visa.
Grant said the American Embassy has offered no objection to the facility, which will provide seats and shelter from the elements.
Currently applicants wait on the sidewalk next to McDonald's. People are admitted to the embassy in small groups, which often leaves many waiting in the hot sun or rain.
Grant said the ministry will begin the project "in short order".
-Tribune
Fight for control at Grand Bahama Power Company
A supreme court decision has stopped a proposed vote of no-confidence that would change the balance of power at the GBPC.
The Bahamas Industrial Engineers, Managerial and Supervisory Union (BIEMSU) got a supreme court injunction blocking Minister of Labour Dion Folkes from carrying out a vote of no-confidence on Monday (February 2nd).
The vote, expected to include 39 people, could remove the BIEMSU as the bargaining agent for the GBPC.
According to Paul Lockhart, Manager of Planning and Scheduling at GBPC, at least half of the management bargaining unit no longer felt that the BIEMSU could represent their interests, which they felt needed to act in a more democratic way.
Lockhart said workers have already form a new union call the Utilities and Allied Workers Management Union (UAWMU), which has received registration from the department of labour.
-Guardian
