Donna Vasyli at an earlier court appearance.
By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
DONNA Vasyli has been given a hearing date next week in the Court of Appeal to contest a judge’s repeated refusal to grant her bail, The Tribune has learned.
The 54-year-old’s hearing on Tuesday will occur a day before the wife of murdered Australian millionaire podiatrist, Phillip Vasyli, is scheduled to appear in Magistrates Court for the expected presentation of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment in connection with the March 24 homicide at their Old Fort Bay home.
The indictment is a bundle of documents containing the Crown’s case against the widow and facilitates the transfer of the case from the lower court to Supreme Court.
Mr Vasyli, 59, was found lifeless in the dining room of his luxury home with multiple stab wounds. He was the owner of four podiatry clinics – three in Sydney, Australia, and one at the Old Fort Bay Medical Centre in New Providence.
Vasyli’s lawyers had filed documents to the appellate court on May 4, days after Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs, who was ordered by the appellate court to reconsider his initial refusal of bail a month ago, denied bail a second time to Vasyli.
“The law requires the applicant to demonstrate why bail should be granted,” the judge said in his ruling on May 1. “Bearing in mind that the applicant is not a citizen, and I accept that she is a permanent resident of some 20 years vintage, and has stated that she has a home in Australia and has access to finances, I am not minded to exercise my undoubted discretion to grant bail for the following reasons.
“The applicant is charged with a serious offence that carries a severe penalty. The applicant will be tried within a reasonable time within the context of prevailing circumstances in the Bahamas. The prosecution has sufficient probable grounds for the charge.
“There is no good reason to conclude that the circumstances of her husband’s death point in any other direction at this stage of the process but to her. The seriousness of the offence and the severity of the penalty are incentives for the applicant to abscond and fail to appear for her trial.”
Comments
TalRussell 8 years, 11 months ago
Comrades personally speaking, I would be scared stiff to appear in front of any judge where when reminded it seems not to matter that the presumption of innocence should be taking priority over the prosecution’s "claim" that the case against the accused "is" strong. I would think the only claim of evidence a judge would posses would have to have come directly from policeman's and they ain't too much Godly accurate when at their most efficient periods.
Tarzan 8 years, 11 months ago
Let's be real here. If this woman is guilty of anything, it was clearly the result of a violent domestic dispute undertaken in a long term pattern of domestic abuse by her husband. The risk to society associated with her release is nil.
The risk of her "jumping bail" is the only issue that supports the magistrate's refusal. This from a judiciary that regularly permits known, career, criminals loose supported by monitoring devices, a number of whom are alleged to have committed murder while on "supervised release".
This is all about this poor woman's race, and her status as a non-citizen and a resulting effort to mollify the masses. Makes a lot of the rabble feel good, but it is a total denial of basic justice. She is innocent until proved guilty of something, and based on the horrific record of our prosecutorial authorities (see missing files in case of notorious drug king), my money is on a finding of "not guilty" if she is ever tried.
SP 8 years, 11 months ago
.......................................Total - Malarky .................................................
How even a total idiot could equate any of this to "race" is beyond comprehension.
The woman has confirmed motives, is the sole murder suspect, has access to more than adequate liquid cash and has many friends with multiple contacts capable of enabling flight in less than a heartbeat.
Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs would be a dam fool, publicly sited as a jackass and dereliction of duties, if he failed to consider all possible consequences considering Donna Vasyles' resources.
Her "race" has nothing to do with her ability as a flight risk.
TalRussell 8 years, 11 months ago
Comrade not for me pre judge her guilt or innocence and the judge reserves right to grant or deny her released on a well-secured money bail with tough security and strict movement conditions. But the judge still works for the people and as one people, it doesn't mean I have agree.
CatIslandBoy 8 years, 11 months ago
Wow! I never though the day would come when I would agree with SP. Plain and simple, the respected judge has exercised his judicial discretion, and the higher courts have yet to override him. To suggest that race plays a factor in this case only underscores the shallowness and perceived bias of the person making such suggestion.
White_Massa 8 years, 11 months ago
TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF THE NEGRO TREATING THE WHITE MASSA DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER SLAVES
SET THE WHITE MASSA FREE SO YOUR PLANTATIONS MAY FLOURISH.
Bahamianpride 8 years, 11 months ago
Set her free you'll never see her again, she is being held on charges of cold blooded murder in a case where all evidence points to her. The judge is correct to deny her bail, and for those who say other accused murderers have been given bail, well u gotta start correcting the system with someone. If she was some poor black Bahamian from over the hill there would be 0 compassion.
FNM_Retards 8 years, 11 months ago
If she was some poor black Bahamian she would have been out on bail a long time ago, or charged with manslaughter. Nggas them is jick up they victims ON CAMERA or with hundreds of witnesses, and they still walk in 2-3 days, and if they ever make it back to court they may get 3 years for cold blooded murder, after being on bail or remand for 3 years - never to see the inside of prison. Dunno what rock you live under.
TalRussell 8 years, 11 months ago
Comrades all information presented to the Judge amounts to nothing more than "allegations" made by the Crown's policeman's or civilian prosecutor. It usually begins from the policeman's "allegations" synopsis. Even if the Crown decides to call a witness to support the "allegations," the witness, or witnesses, in all likelihood will be policeman's. Some might see it as lopsided, all policeman's - yet to be tested "allegations." You see, that is way we justice system grants bail.
Bahamianpride 8 years, 11 months ago
Tal, you know that for her or any person of wealth, influence or power in the Bahamas to be arrested or charged with any crime the evidence had to be overwhelming. The police are the fact finders and in a case where physical evidence is all you have then offcourse the police reports, testimony will be what's used to seal the case. In her case the police did not make immediate arrest but the physical evidence was so overwhelming that even stevie wonder would have made a move. Tal, eventially she's going to walk free, aquitted because of good lawyers, bribes or just incompentancy with evidence or process. Her spending a little time at Her Majesty Prison is the longest she'll suffer before walking free of any crime in the near future. I'm more concerned about some poor bahamian sitting in fox hill for months for a joint. Now that's injustice.
TalRussell 8 years, 11 months ago
Comrade Bahamianpride, "her today, you or I tomorrow." I want Bahamaland's justice to symbolize the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded equally either for or against the wealthiest and the poorest. You cannot protect the rights poor exclusively.
FNM_Retards 8 years, 11 months ago
Injustice is letting that dumb pothead back out on the streets to breed. They knew the law and chose to break it, fck them.
justsyting 8 years, 11 months ago
I have to agree with comrade irregardless of the strength of your evidence, the burden of proof should be on the prosecutor to prove the accused guilty and not the accused to prove themselves innocent. and until you as an innocent mind has had evidence fabricated against you then you would not have the desire to call the legal system into perspective
Bahamianpride 8 years, 11 months ago
Tal, the rights of the poor are the main ones being violated and needs protecting the most. The rich don't need u or my protection in the Bahamas. Its the poor who suffer from police brutality, economic and social injustices. Besides this is not an issue of evidence or justice, we know she killed him, why who knows, this is an issue of risk of flight from justice. I know what it's like to have your rights violated by the police & system, it's happened to me multiple times. This is not the case here. I do agree the system should be about equal justice, but that utophia does not exist. Justice is determine by status, economics & political connections in the Bahamas & around the world. Nobody with money gets injustice in the Bahamas. In fact I would say we sell our souls to help them get off. Off the top of my head I cannot recall an incident in my life history where Bahamian police was found to fabricate anything against rich white people. You got 1 Tal.
TalRussell 8 years, 11 months ago
Comrade I have 2. Having little money can indeed be an obstacle for the poor to obtain justice, but according to you, so should those having too much money. Our politicians believe they should wield the power to put fear of God in any judge granting bail. The poorest among us cannot benefit from a run scared justice system, in fact, being there are many more poor, its scarey how it will threaten their freedom.
FNM_Retards 8 years, 11 months ago
You KNOW She killed him? Were you there? You have no fcking idea do you. Without evidence there is no case, dummy. It's not what you THINK you know, it's what you can prove.
Bahamianpride 8 years, 11 months ago
Tal, Police do not bother rich people or the politically connected unless forced too do so like in this case. In any instance where it does happen they were pressured into it by the politics of the day. To do so otherwise is suicidal. Poor people are easy pickens. Many have limited education, don't know their rights, and of course cannot hire Monroe, Smith or any of these lawyers to make life hell for anyone who would violate those rights.. If anything the politicians are bullying the judges to free her or anyone with wealth and connection on bond. U know how all these murderers get loose on bail, they pay with drug money or have family in powerful positions to make calls. Tell u what Tal, my prediction is she gets bond eventially and even better, she gets off on self defense. They could save the country a fortune now by just releasing her on 5 million bond. The way i see it we'll be up 5 million and have one less case clogging the court system because chances are we'll never see her again.
FNM_Retards 8 years, 11 months ago
You already said you KNOW she did it, how can you let her get away with murder then, since you KNOW she did it?
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