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The former Chief Minister’s private secretary was not criminally responsible for maliciously damaging artwork and a series of violent assaults on account of his mental health, the Royal Court has ruled.
Timothy David Nicolle (31) had been charged with three counts of grave and criminal assault, and breaking into property, and causing malicious damage on 29 November 2020.
The offences, which occurred while Mr Nicole was supporting the then-Senator John Le Fondré, took place at multiple properties in St. Lawrence.
Last year, the Royal Court determined that Mr Nicolle would not be fit to enter a plea or stand trial and decided that a special hearing before the Inferior Number of the Royal Court should take place.
Under a provision in Jersey's 2016 Mental Health Law, the court has the ability to determine if an individual is "not criminally responsible", even if they conclude that the defendant has committed the acts of which they are accused.
Following a hearing this week, the Royal Court decided that Mr Nicolle had committed the offences - however, they accepted the evidence of two medical experts that he was suffering from a mental disorder so should not to be held criminally responsible for the crimes.
He was therefore acquitted on all counts.
Commissioner Sir Michael Birt was presiding over the long-running case, which was initially covered by reporting restrictions. They were lifted today.
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