Truck driver acquitted of manslaughter
The building that houses the High Court in Road Town, Tortola.
A Long Trench resident charged with manslaughter two years ago has been acquitted.
Anthony Cheltenham was found not guilty by a nine-member-jury last Thursday.
His attorneys Valerie Stephens-Gordon and Stacy Abel successfully argued that the incident was nothing more than an ‘unfortunate accident’ when the 53-year-old’s tow truck caused fatal injuries to another man on the day in question.
The accident was caused when the unmanned tow truck began to roll down a slope on which it was parked; killing Phillip Thomas, the unsuspecting victim from Trinidad & Tobago.
The Crown argued that Cheltenham was grossly negligent. They argued that Cheltenham should have not even brought the truck to the site because that tow truck was the ‘wrong type’ to be used for the job he was attempting to do on the day in question.
Cheltenham’s attorneys, however, maintained that their client was not negligent. The argued that he took all necessary precautions such as placing boulders behind the wheels of the truck to prevent it from sliding.
What was alleged
The court heard that Cheltenham who owns a wrecker company, went to a private residence at Fort Hill to have a vehicle towed.
While in the process, the wrecker started to roll downhill into some vegetation. The vehicle that was being towed was subsequently thrust into a nearby home.
Cheltenham, Thomas (the deceased), and the owner of the residence were all injured at varying degrees, as a result. However, Thomas succumbed to his injuries at the hospital later that day. He reportedly sustained a crushed pelvis and had internal bleeding.
Cheltenham was subsequently charged.
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Poor prosecution again.
Why do the articles about a failed prosecution always omit the name of the lawyer that acted for the crown?
Who prosecuted this one?
Rubbish.
It was not a matter of poor prosecution or great defense. The Jury listened to the evidence and returned a not guilty plea. Unfortunately a person lost their life….that is the hard part. Justice was done.
You ppl are just evil, the jurors in the bvi are jokere
Exactly.
I know people like to comment on articles, but it is always very difficult to make an informed comment on a jury decision (good or bad) unless you have actually heard the evidence that they heard. News articles only ever provide a tiny snapshot of the court proceedings.
We understand is a jury verdict but the scc didn’t have a hint as to the what the prosecution case was. The dpp office needs to get its sheeps and goats together. The procutorsbourn them less. I feel for the police . I was in court listened to this prosecutor presented the case to the jurors. To me was pure comedy . Poor girl
A local? We want our own!!
your own are incompetent.
U need to leave now
Well I was there too and you are talking crap. The young lady who presented the case for the crown did a sterling job. As far as I heard all the elements of the offence were proved. The fact that the jury brought back a not guilty only proves the point I have been saying all along…Tola juries do not want to convict Tolans.
You are talking crap. I do not know what case you were listening to. His defence was accident.. the Crown said gross negligence and I agree. Why don’t you look to the real problem? Tortola juries.
And what is wrong with that? too bad your own do not want you. If they did you would not be here insulting people in their country.