Man denied bail for trying to murder Pam

A 27-year-old Tobago man was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with the attempted murder of former Tobago West MP and NAR Government Minister Pamela “Sister Pam” Nicholson and her sister Pat, a former secondary school teacher. Andel Roberts, of Roberts Trace, Bethany, Mt Pleasant, is on two separate charges of attempting to murder the Nicholson sisters on March 16 at Mt Pleasant. It is alleged that the victims were attacked and stabbed in their home at Mt Pleasant.

The accused was not called on to plead as the charges are indictable (trial by judge and jury). Charges were laid by Detective Sgt Vincel Edwards of Old Grange Police Station. Roberts, who told the court he was a carpenter/mason, was represented by defence attorney Brian Dabideen. The police objected to bail on the ground that the accused was a “flight risk” — likely to flee Trinidad and Tobago. The court was told that the accused had been living in the United Kingdom and was due to return there soon.

However, defence attorney Dabideen, in his arguments for bail, submitted that Roberts was in a common-law relationship with a UK citizen and had lived in the UK for six months while seeking medical attention. Dabideen argued that attempted murder was a bailable offence, and it was the accused’s constitutional right to be granted bail. Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie upheld the police objection and advised the accused of his right to apply for bail before a Judge. The accused is to reappear in court on April 8.