Belize City Man Denied Bail in Domestic Threat Case

Tonight, a Belize City man is behind bars after a domestic dispute spiraled into serious threats. Thirty-one-year-old Toney White allegedly threatened to kill his ex-partner, Raisha Nicholson, and even burn down her house. Nicholson says she turned to Facebook for help after claiming police ignored her pleas. Her post went viral, and authorities quickly acted. She told investigators White threw a coconut at her, thankfully, he missed but also threatened her life and the lives of their children. Police tracked White down two days later. In court today, he faced three charges: aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument, threats of death, and threats to damage property. Prosecutors urged the court to send a strong message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. White argued he’s never been convicted and is a father of three, but the magistrate wasn’t convinced. Bail was denied, though he can apply to the High Court. Nicholson says the incident happened while she was waiting for her kids to return from a nearby store.

 

Raisha Nicholson, Survivor, Domestic Violence

“A young man right across my house from the tire shop that I call Lee Alex came to tell me that Toney the call you. So now I done know the situation with my baby dad, and I won’t walk into my death. I don’t know what could happen. He threatened my life multiple times. From my past relationship he use to beat up me. I told Alex, tell Toney I said F U. I came back inside and locked my door and wait for my kids. A couple of minutes later I hear my baby dad is cursing outside. I dah like I nuh gwen through this, I nuh wah deal with this. He start call for me son. I just ignore ah. My son come upstairs and lock the door and that got him vex. So he got vex and say F U, I will kill you. I would kill you and those kids and burn you up in this house. I told him you can do what you want. At this point I don’t even care. Pick up a coconut from in front of my yard and stone me with it. Now, I pregnant and I said that does not make any sense. So, I told him I will call the police. He said, I don’t give an F what you do, he said he would run up in my house and stab me up. I told him I will call the police. So he gone towards the chair shop. I thought he was going to the chair shop to get something to hurt me. So I walked in my kitchen, got a knife and sat down in my chair.  And I the call 911, call 911 they hang up, call again, the lady answer. I explained to her miss, I need a mobile. He stoned me with a coconut and threatened to kill me and my kids. Weh part that deh? How will you talk to me like that? The lady said, where. I give the chair shop name and she hung up. Now I done frantic and afraid. I give you my direct address, you don’t know where eat is. You hung up on me before I finish. So I called back again and said miss I just the call back because the call was disconnected and I need to make a report and from my understanding. She said, miss I done get your report, you just have to wait on the verandah until police come. That nuh mek no sense.”

 

Nicholson says she was eventually able to get the help she needed from police after contacting a relative who is also a police officer.