Attorney secures bail with help from sister and friend

Two people have put their properties on the line to secure bail for elderly attorney-at-law Hilary Jefferson Nelson, preventing him from being remanded to jail on a charge of stealing £347 560.90 (BDS$855 000).

Nelson, recently committed by Magistrate Manila Renee to stand trial in the High Court for allegedly stealing the money belonging to Errol Hewitt between November 13, 2018, and March 4, 2019, was granted $400 000 bail but needed suitable sureties to sign for him.

Last month, the attorney, who was 74 years old at the time he allegedly committed the offence, appeared in court with one surety—his wife. However, Magistrate Renee deemed her unsuitable as she was scheduled to travel overseas that week. She insisted that a surety must be on the island to ensure the accused appears in court.

On Friday, Nelson’s sister and a “good” friend stepped forward, submitting original conveyances for their properties as collateral. They each pledged $200 000, which they would forfeit if Nelson failed to appear in court.

The magistrate warned them that they could face jail time if the attorney absconded. She also expressed hope that the case would be resolved soon, allowing the sureties to retrieve their property documents for future use.

Nelson, a resident of #134 Bagatelle Terrace, St Thomas, was in court on Friday with his new lawyer, Barbara Ifill.