Bar owner arrested after wounding American tourist

BVI News understands that a well-known bar owner was recently arrested and charged after stabbing a tourist who patronised his business.

It’s understood that the American tourist entered the bar at Smuggler’s Cove Beach and ordered a drink. After paying for the drink, the tourist reportedly asked for his change, which the bar owner refused to give.

It’s understood that the bar owner got visibly upset as the visitor continued to ask for his change, but eventually handed over the cash after a heated verbal exchange.

Some time later, eyewitnesses say they observed the tourist in Cane Garden Bay with blood on his neck and hand. Further checks revealed that the bar owner stabbed the visitor in the neck and other parts of his body. The tourist was taken to the hospital for medical treatment while his travel partner reportedly contacted the police.

Our news centre was not able to ascertain the seriousness of the man’s injuries.

It’s also understood that police conducted investigations — reviewing CCTV footage and questioning eyewitnesses before they went in search of the business owner.

Sources say the suspect had blood on his hands when the police finally caught him and took him into custody. He was formally charged with wounding but was later released on bail. BVI News was unable to confirm the exact amount of his bail.

In the meantime, it’s unclear whether the visitor has left the territory and whether he will attend court when the suspect appears in the Magistrate’s Court in a few weeks.