Georgia mom and beauty queen Lindsay Shiver is at the center of a high-profile legal battle. Accused of plotting to hire a hitman to kill her ex-NFL player husband, Robert Shiver, her defense team argues fundamental issues with the evidence.
Jurisdictional Dispute
Lindsay Shiver’s U.S. attorney claims Bahamian prosecutors do not have the jurisdiction to charge her with murder-for-hire. The alleged conspiracy was said to occur while Shiver was in the United States. Attorney Craig Shirley stated, “Lindsay Shiver is not guilty of the crimes alleged against her by the Bahamian Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Period.”
Evidence and Allegations
Shiver’s attorney emphasized that the defense has provided evidence proving her presence in the U.S. on July 16, 2023, when the alleged conspiracy took place. “The DPP must prove it,” Shirley remarked, highlighting the necessity for prosecutors to establish Shiver’s presence in the Bahamas on that date. If they cannot, it poses a significant issue for their case.
Legal and Factual Challenges
Shirley argues that this discrepancy represents not only a factual dispute but also a jurisdictional flaw. This would prevent the Bahamian government from prosecuting Shiver under its penal code. “Lindsay cannot be prosecuted for an alleged act committed while the evidence shows she was elsewhere,” he asserted.
Despite the defense’s stance, Bahamian authorities continue with the prosecution. Shirley expressed his shock and disappointment over this decision, urging the authorities to drop all charges. “Lindsay should never have been subjected to a prosecution that the Bahamian government lacked the legal authority to bring,” he said.
Unraveling the Alleged Plot
The alleged conspiracy was uncovered during a separate investigation into a break-in at an Abaco, Bahamas bar. Police found WhatsApp messages on a suspect’s phone, with instructions allegedly from Lindsay Shiver to “Kill him,” referring to her husband, Robert Shiver. However, defense attorneys argued these messages were out of context.
Current Status of the Case
In July 2023, Lindsay Shiver, her alleged lover Adrien Bethel, and the accused hitman Faron Newbold Jr. were arrested in the Bahamas. They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder under Bahamian law and have pleaded not guilty.