Salehe Todman before his appearance at the Magistrate's Court on April 18, 2013. Photo: VINO

Senior Crown Counsel, Valston Graham previously told the court that he saw no reason why the trial would not be able to commence today, June 6, 2013.

However, Graham reportedly took ill today while the defendant’s counsel, Patrick Thompson, was engaged at the High Court.

According to the allegations, on July 6, 2012 at about 8:30 P.M. at the Sol gas station, an officer present heard a noise and proceeded to see what was going on. The officer ended up intervening in an altercation between two men. One of the men had a 'leatherman knife'.

While the officer tried to restrain the man with the knife, his friend Todman allegedly shouted “Let go my pardna” and then the officer felt Todman come over his shoulder.

The officer identified himself to Todman, and told the defendant that he was obstructing him from carrying out his duties. The officer also allegedly asked Todman to refrain from doing so. It was stated that Todman refused to stop and the officer had to hold on to the defendant by his shirt neck with one hand.

Senior Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin who held for the Crown today, asked that the matter be adjourned to a later date under the circumstances.

The trial has now been adjourned to July 15, 2013.

See previous story posted April 18, 2013:

Salehe Todman’s trial now set for June

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The trial involving Salehe Todman has been deferred to a later date after the prosecutor in the matter indicated today, April 18, 2013 that he had just been handed the file.

The defendant on a previous court date had pleaded not guilty to obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties.

When the matter appeared before the Magistrate's Court today, Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham said that he did not foresee any cause why a trial involving Todman would not be able to start on the now scheduled date of June 6, 2013.

Graham told the court that he was unable to peruse the case file and related that there was only one witness scheduled to testify in the case.

According to the allegations, on July 6, 2012 at about 8:30 P.M. at the Sol gas station, an officer present heard a noise and proceeded to see what was going on. The officer ended up intervening in an altercation between two men. One of the men had a 'leatherman knife'.

While the officer tried to restrain the man with the knife, his friend Todman allegedly shouted “Let go my pardna” and then the officer felt Todman come over his shoulder.

The officer identified himself to Todman, and told the defendant that he was obstructing him from carrying out his duties. The officer also allegedly asked Todman to refrain from doing so. It was stated that Todman refused to stop and the officer had to hold on to the defendant by his shirt neck with one hand.

The defendant was then told that if he continued interfering he will be arrested for obstructing a police officer.

Todman reportedly tried to pull away from the officer and get to his friend. The defendant was told by the police that he would be arrested for obstruction, but he still went to his friend and retrieved the knife. As a result the defendant was cautioned and taken to the Road Town Police Station where he was charged.

He was placed on $45,000 previously.