Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 30, 2025

Former cop loses appeal over Breach of Trust conviction

Former cop loses appeal over Breach of Trust conviction

Former officer within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Starcy Huggins, lost at the Court of Appeal in attempting to overturn her 2019 conviction and sentence for Breach of Trust.
Huggins was convicted for tipping off suspects under police investigations in a covert operation in 2013 called CUMBRIA. The operation involved the fabrication of another operation called BOWFIN, where Huggins was recorded making phone calls to the suspects upon whom search warrants were being executed.

In operation BOWFIN, Huggins was called on to assist other officers in executing search warrants at the premises of Kemuel Merry and Cliff Williams. She was collected by fellow police officers in a police vehicle fitted with audio and video recording equipment.

Huggins was then left alone in the vehicle and was recorded making phone calls to both Merry and Williams. She was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for a two-year period.

She appealed the conviction, citing issues with the elements of the offence of Breach of Trust, the admissibility of audio-visual recordings, and the fairness of the trial.

Appeal Court decision

The Court of Appeal found that Huggins was not denied a fair trial as she claimed. The Court ruled that while the right to a fair trial is absolute, it must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In this case, it found that there was not a single instance where there was an error of procedure or law which prevented Huggins from properly making her defence.

It was also found that many of the issues raised by attorneys for Huggins concern points that did not accurately reflect the true nature of the trial. Furthermore, the Court dismissed Huggins’ argument that she was a victim of entrapment, as there was nothing on the record to demonstrate that she was forced, coerced or persuaded to act in the way she did.

The Court also addressed the fact that evidence was obtained by covert means, stating that it is not a sole ground to challenge its admissibility and does not make the trial unfair. Even if the constitutional right is infringed in the process, it is within the purview of the trial judge whether to exercise their discretion to admit the said evidence or not. The argument by Huggins that there was no judicial preauthorisation to engage in covert operations was found to be unconvincing.

Huggins was represented by Michael Lashley, KC, Akilah Anderson and Tracy Francis-Smith while Tiffany Scatliffe represented the Commissioner of Police in the matter.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
×