By Elesha George
Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh has dismissed a charge of grievous bodily harm made against the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Society (ABRCS), Elvis Watkins, after hearing what she described as “confusing” testimony from his ex-partner, Viveca Shadrach, who accused him of striking her across the face and causing her to scratch her arm.
“I have never had a case that confused me so much,” remarked Chief Magistrate Walsh, who concluded that the case should never have been brought before the court.
The charge against Watkins was dismissed as a result of several inconsistencies with Shadrach’s story regarding how the incident unfolded and what led her to ultimately make a report to the police four months later.
Shadrach, who served as the Interim Director General at ABRCS during the time of the incident, originally said that around 9pm on October 1 last year, she went to Watkins’ home because he owed her $3,000 and was not replying to her messages about when he planned to repay her.
But when probed further by Watkins’ lawyer, Wendel Robinson, she told the court that she became “alarmed” and “scared” for him and wanted to make sure that he was “okay” when he did not return her phone calls – something she claimed was out of the ordinary.
Upon arriving at his house, she saw Watkins undressed with another woman inside. She later identified that woman as a friend and coworker of both her and Watkins, although she testified earlier that she had only interacted with the woman once before.
Shadrach, who said she was left in “shock”, said that Watkins had grabbed her while she stood outside a window claiming to now have proof of his infidelity. During the altercation, the woman dropped her phone and claimed that when she turned to look down at it, Watkins struck her across the face. The commotion caused the window to break and scratch her arm.
Based on a statement she gave to the police in March 2022, attorney Robinson was also able to prove that Shadrach had attempted to gain entry into the house “to speak” with the other woman, who she said Watkins had denied having any relations with for years. Watkins called the police when Shadrach refused to exit his property.
In speaking to his character, Shadrach also admitted that in the seven-year on-and-off relationship, Watkins had never been violent and had always been kind to her, and he had even offered to have her sit in his vehicle when she complained of feeling nauseous while they waited for the police to arrive.
Shadrach also admitted that neither party wanted to press charges.
Further probing by attorney Robinson highlighted the delay in reporting the matter to police and visiting the doctor for her injuries.
In February, Shadrach visited a doctor, relating what she said was “discomfort in her jaw” and a “blood shot” eye from the incident. However, nothing in her medical report showed that she had sustained any injuries. The lawyer also pointed out that at the time of the incident, Shadrach never informed the police that she needed medical attention.
According to court documents, Shadrach only reported the matter to the police in March 2022, which was also around the time she said she stopped receiving cheques from the Red Cross. She, however, denied that that was the reason for making the report.
She wanted the court to believe that Watkins had begun to threaten her life, saying “he told me that he knew people that could get rid of me and no one would ever find me”. In tears, she stated that it was the threats and not the physical incident which had caused her to make the report.
In April 2022, Watkins spent 10 days on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison after Shadrach filed the police report against him.