High Court hears Nikolic’s overdose ‘parting gift’ to wife as drugs trial begins in Fiji
Prosecutors claim former Melbourne racehorse trainer John Nikolic overdosed to protect his wife Yvette, after cocaine was found on their luxury yacht in Fiji.
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Renaming their yacht Shenanigans was “perhaps an in joke” between Yvette and former Melbourne racehorse trainer John Nikolic, as they presented to the outside world a charade of embarking on a high-seas adventure, while in reality being involved “in the wicked international drugs trade”, the Suva High Court has heard.
Both John and Yvette have pleaded not guilty to charges of drug importation and possession, and having undeclared weapons and ammunition on board their catamaran.
Prosecutor Lee Burney told the court the Nikolics’ plan to “hide in plain sight” — as they posted about their epic journey — could have been perceived as “a kind of flawed genius”, if it hadn’t been for the fact the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) had become suspicious of the yacht and selected it for closer inspection.
“As it turns out, there was no hiding,” Mr Burney said.
When Shenanigans was raided by authorities using sniffer dogs at Denarau Marina on June 22, they found 10 blocks of cocaine in a blue bag under the deck.
It was then John Nikolic realised “the shenanigans were up”, and revealed to authorities where the remainder of the drugs were hidden, and claimed sole responsibility, Mr Burney said.
Behind a panel in the lounge room of the luxury yacht, more drugs and weapons were uncovered.
John Nikolic then asked to speak to his wife, and they shared an intimate moment, before he asked to go to the washroom, Mr Burney said.
“In a dramatic turn of events”, Mr Nikolic then collapsed next to his wife and was found to be unresponsive by a doctor, with his pupils just pinpricks.
The doctor determined Mr Nikolic was in respiratory arrest following an overdose and he was rushed to Lautoka hospital, where he remained seriously ill for a number of days, Mr Burney said.
“It was Mr Nikolic’s parting gift to his wife to provide a life raft of a defence,” he said.
Being fully aware of the fact drug smuggling was a dangerous game, it was probably “the most natural thing in the world for a loving husband to seek to protect his wife in case the gamble did not pay off”, Mr Burney told the court in his opening address.
“An innocent man would have loudly protested his innocence rather than attempt suicide.”
The first day of their criminal trial before Justice Daniel Goundar continues this afternoon.
The Australian pair are charged with multiple counts of drug importation and possession, following the yacht raid. To date, they have pleaded not guilty.
Both were stony-faced and refused to speak as they stepped down from the open-back prison truck they arrived in.
When they arrived at the courtroom. they were embraced by John’s brother Danny Nikolic and his partner Tania.
Lawyers for the Nikolics told News Corp the defence had a number of witnesses they would call and the trial was expected to run for a number of days and possibly even weeks.
It is understood at least 17 witnesses will be called for the prosecution.
It is alleged cocaine and methamphetamine with a street value of up to $30 million was found on Shenanigans when it was raided in Fiji.
It is also alleged a nine millimetre Smith and Wesson pistol with 62 rounds of ammunition and one revolver with 41 rounds of ammunition were on board.
The loved-up Nikolics, who had no previous sailing experience, bought a catamaran in Florida and had it refurbished, before setting off on what they dubbed “the adventure of a lifetime” at the beginning of last year.
They sailed to Colombia and through Panama, before making their way through the Pacific, to Fiji.
Fiji border police had told News Corp they became suspicious of the Nikolic’s yacht because of the route it was taking and the amount of time it was spending in Pacific Island ports.
The Nikolics have spent the last seven months behind bars in Fiji, awaiting their trial.
Originally published as High Court hears Nikolic’s overdose ‘parting gift’ to wife as drugs trial begins in Fiji
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