The judicial review against Sixth District Representative Hon Myron V. Walwyn, left, and Assistant Secretary Lorna Stevens has been thrown out in the High Court. Photo: Facebook/File

Over the past three years, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, left, has failed to prove one CoI case in Court despite spending close to three million of taxpayers' dollars on UK national John Black and Mr Sandip Patel, right. Photo: Facebook/qri.gg

The one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI), headed by a British national, Gary R. Hickinbottom, allegedly came to the Virgin Islands on a witch-hunt. Photo: UPPA/Photoshot

The one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) headed by British national Gary R. Hickinbottom allegedly came to the Virgin Islands on a witch-hunt and pushed the matter, in which both Hon Walwyn and Ms Stevens were charged with Breach of Trust.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, who many claim is the officer being used by the Governor and United Kingdom (UK) police officers to execute the witch-hunt with bogus charges against residents, got another blow again today. Firstly, she was to appeal the case against Hon Walwyn and Ms Stevens.

Change to Judicial Review

However, the DPP changed her mind on the advice of UK Prosecutor Sandip Patel KC, who is making millions of taxpayer dollars to carry out the alleged weaponisation of the judicial system and instead sought a Judicial Review (JD) on the Senior Magistrate’s decision.

Today, October 21, 2026, the High Court upheld the Magistrate’s decision to dismiss the Breach of Trust case, following a no-case submission.

High Court Judge Theresa Hadad found that the Senior Magistrate Richards acted within her legal authority and did not exceed her statutory powers. In her ruling, the Court determined that the DPP was effectively seeking to have the High Court reconsider the merits of the proceedings before the Magistrate, rather than establishing valid grounds for judicial review.

The Court explained that the Magistrate was entitled to assess the evidence presented and determine whether a prima facie case of breach of trust against the accused had been established. This necessarily required an examination of the sufficiency of the evidence and the essential elements of the alleged offence.

Bogus prosecution?

In the biggest blow yet to the witch-hunt case against Hon Walwyn and Ms Stevens, the Court found no evidence that the Magistrate had acted unlawfully, exceeded her jurisdiction or exercised her powers irrationally, as alleged by Mrs Scatliffe-Esprit.

Importantly, the Court also stressed that judicial review is a remedy of last resort and should not be pursued where an appropriate alternative legal remedy is available.

Over the past three years, the DPP has failed to prove one CoI case in Court despite spending close to three million of taxpayers' dollars on UK national John Black and Mr Patel. So far, all CoI cases that proceeded to trial have gone down in flames, including cases against Comptroller of Customs Wade N. Smith, and Director of International Affairs Najan Christopher.

The DPP and her high-paid King's Counsel from the United Kingdom also lost many police cases, including that against Pamphil Prevost, Simon Powers and Marley Sebastian.

About three alleged CoI bogus cases are outstanding and are expected to be tossed out, including cases against Mr Julian Willock, Mr Kevin Thomas and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline.

Class action lawsuit coming?

Hon Walwyn was represented by high-powered attorneys Terrence F. Williams KC and Karlene T. Lucien of Chase Law. Ms Stevens was represented by Attorney Valston M. Graham. The prosecutor today was Mr Patel.

After the alleged witch-hunt cases are over, a class action lawsuit from residents whose good names have been put through the judicial system with zero evidence is expected. That is likely to cost taxpayers close to 50 million dollars. The UK Police Officers, the Governor and the Members of the CoI have been exempted by the UK Parliament from being sued or held personally liable.