Man pressured family to drop charges over prison phone

Wednesday 12 October 2022

A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to 12-months in prison by Guernsey's Royal Court after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice by pressuring family members to drop charges against him and to blame his brother instead.

Martin Vasic had been held on remand since February for an alleged violent assault, wounding, and possession of an imitation firearm, against his brother.

Vasic made 12 phone calls to family members whilst in custody on remand between March 15 and 21. During five of those calls he could be heard threatening his parents to drop the charges and to blame his brother on the basis that he would receive a shorter prison sentence.  

Vasic said he only wanted his parents to tell the truth about his self-defense when questioned by Police, but he admitted he “went too far” by exerting pressure on them to drop charges. 

He was charged with perverting the course of justice on July 21 and a guilty plea was entered before the case was committed to the Royal Court.

Prosecuting Advocate Jenny McVeigh said Police attended Vasic’s home address on February 26 following a call from relatives.

Vasic returned home that evening and was reportedly paranoid which made him angry. He purportedly fired a BB gun at his brother “five or six times” before their parents intervened. 

A struggle ensued on the ground between Vasic and his brother to dispossess the former of the gun. Vasic hit his brother with the weapon in the face and on the back of the head before biting him on the chin, according to Advocate McVeigh. 

Photographs shared with the court showed the brother had sustained “several bumps and lacerations on the head”.

Pictured: Vasic was sentenced by the Royal Court.

Vasic told Police he wanted to shoot the gun for target practice and indiscriminately fired shots inside to check the gas canister level. He then loaded the gun and replaced the gas before claiming his brother jumped on his back.

He claimed to act in self-defense and, believing the house to be wiretapped by the Police, requested the recordings from investigators. 

Witness statements were provided by family members a few days after the February incident. The parents and brother later made withdrawal statements, claiming they did not support the prosecution of Vasic, but gave no alternative explanation of events. 

The father had told Police that Vasic was experiencing increasing paranoia leading up to the incident and agreed with the version of events, but later said the brother had been the aggressor in the situation.

The mother also agreed with the playout of events but withdrew her statement as she wanted her son released from custody to help support the family. She threatened to harm herself if this was not realised.

Pictured: Recorded phone calls from Les Nicolles revealed Vasic attempting to influence criminal proceedings. 

Defending Vasic, Advocate Paul Lockwood said there was “substantial evidence” to support Vasic’s account of the incident and that he was pressuring his parents to tell the truth about that night.

Advocate Lockwood added that Vasic was only playing with the gun which worried his brother into attempting to disarm him, and that his brother was the aggressor. 

Other claims made during the calls were noted as being “unacceptable” which reflected the guilty plea to the single charge. Advocate Lockwood said Vasic “was desperate” as his family were against him and his duty advocate suggested he was likely to receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

The defense asked for a suspended sentence to be imposed.

Judge Russell Finch said whatever transpired in February was not for court to assess, and that those who interfere with criminal justice proceedings should expect a prison sentence.

“You lean on your parents and leaned on your brothers,” he said as Vasic’s “realistic and somewhat depressing” probation report was noted.

Vasic was sentenced to 12-months in prison, to run from February 27. He was not sentenced for the charges brought against him for the events of February 26.