A jury has found Saleim Harrigan guilty of the 2020 murder of Customs officer Nigel Christian, while co-accused Wayne Thomas and Lasean Bully were acquitted.
The nine-member panel delivered the split verdict after more than five hours of deliberations before Justice Rajiv Persaud, returning to court after 7pm.
Jurors began deliberating around 2pm and, after indicating they needed more time at about 6pm, later reached their final decisions.
The case stemmed from the July 10, 2020 abduction and killing of Christian, who was taken at gunpoint from his McKinnons home and found dead later that day on a dirt road in Thibou’s.
Harrigan now awaits sentencing. Thomas and Bully were cleared of the murder charge, although Thomas was remanded due to a separate matter.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Father God…please still my tongue.
This country…. this country is a not a real place.
Antigua is definitely not a real place. Just sad.
If you have evidence that put the accused at the crime scene, and enough evidence to prove that he carried out the murder, didn’t that evidence come from the same witness who put all four men at scene?
So this juror believe the witness that put the guilty killer at the scene, but not the other two?
How is that even plausible? His memory and eyes were accurate for one, but not the other two who were allegedly also at the scene of the crime, and also in the car?
Really strange verdict.
I hope a court news reporter outline the full scope of this verdict for the public to understand clearer. Too many questions are still unanswered here, and I’ll be remiss to think that full justice was executed here.
Bwoi a tell yah.
Wow! an amazing decision. However, from the evidence that I heard it seems as if this was a serious joint enterprise from beginning to end. Anyway, I must confess that I did not hear all the evidence as the jurors did so I must have missed some things.
Remember to Vote. Yet another injustice
Now they are free too pick up where they left off… crimewise
There is one question
How many persons went to his home? If there were four I could accept one murder and three manslaughter,…..
WHAT THE HELL…! …AMAZING! ‘TARL’ …A VERDICT OF PERVERSITY
***
THEY DON’T EVEN OFFER ‘…DEGREE IN STUPIDITY’ AT ‘…FIVE ISLANDS UNIVERSITY.’
***
THIS IS CLEARLY:
(i) ‘…A VERDICT OF PERVERSITY: and
(ii) …MATCHED ONLY BY THE ‘…DISGRACED JURY: then
(iii) …NUMBERED 12: who
(iv) …APPEARED BEFORE TRIAL JUDGE, JUSTICE, ALBERT REDHEAD: in
(v) …RAPE TRIAL: when
(vi) …THE GOONS NUMBERED ‘…10, RETURNED A ‘…NOT GUILTY VERDICT: thereby
(vii) …INVITED THE WRATH OF THE ‘TRIAL JUDGE: for
(viii) …WEIRD SENSE OF JUSTICE: for which,
(ix) …HE SLAPPED A ‘…LIFETIME BAN ON THOSE APPARENT ‘…SENSELESS GOONS.’
[JUNE 2015].
***
‘
NOW:
(i) ‘…4-ADULT MALES: allegedly
(ii) …ACTED IN CONSORT:
(iii) …EMBARKED UPON A CLEARLY ‘JOINT ENTERPRISE:
(iv) TO ABDUCT AND MURDER:
(v) …SO ABDUCTED AND MURDERED NIGEL CHRISTIAN:
(vi) …A SELF-INCRIMINATED SWORN-TESTIMONY CRIMINAL:
(vii) …GAVE EVIDENCE THAT HE ‘…DROPPED OFF 3-ACCOMPLICES: at
(viii) …THE RESIDENCE OF THE DECEASED: saw
(ix) …ABDUCTED THE DECEASED: bundled
(x) …HIM INTO HIS VEHICLE: then
(xi) …DROVE HIM TO ‘THIBOU’S ESTATE: where
(xii) …HIS BODY WAS RIDDLED WITH BULLETS: after which
(xii) …HE PICKED THEM UP: and
(xiv) …DROVE THEM OFF TO WHERE THEY DIRECTED.’
***
QUESTION
‘…DID THEY NOT HEAR THIS EVIDENCE: from
(a) ‘…CRIMINAL ACCOMPLICE WITNESS, ‘…CARLOS JOSEPH?
(b) …ARE MEMBERS OF THE JURY NOW: saying
(c) …ONE ACCUSED ABDUCTED AND MURDERED NIGEL CHRISTIAN?’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
NOW WITH:
5-FEMALES: and
4-MALES,’ JUST HOW MANY DID NOT COMPREHEND: the
‘…LEGAL DIRECTIONS: seemingly
PATIENTLY: …PELLUCIDLY AND TIME-CONSUMINGLY GIVEN: by
THE LEARNED TRIAL JUDGE, HIS LORDSHIP, JUSTICE RAJIV PERSAD.’
***
HIS LORDSHIP MAY WISH TO JOIN ‘…JUSTICE REDHEAD.’
***
NOT DOWN THERE, THOUGH.
***
WALK GOOD.
***
Time for Harrigan to speak out. Something just does not sound right and isn’t right.
Yet another example of a real banana republic that we are and we have persons going around with red flags on their car boasting how far Antigua have come. Shouting economic powerhouse…RED IS BREAD.
Previously we had the VEHICLE GATE SCANDAL where over $15.000.000.00 defrauded from the treasury and that matter didn’t even reach as low as the magistrate court and it was solved…HOW? The known criminals were not even interview by the police. Yes i said criminals because fraud is a crime and defrauding the government treasury of over $15.000.000.00 is a major financial crime. A Prime Civil servant told this nation that restitution was made and HE is satisfied there is no need to go further…THE BIG DAWG DONE TALK…REALLY? The head of the duty-free factory and a former department head and boss of the murdered Nigel Christian smiling all the way to the bank. Is this country for real…NO I SAY.
Nigel my brother….your former boss was at your funeral along with his minions…standing besides your coffin, well dressed in all their glory. One of the trbutors at the funeral asked the question of your former boss “WHAT DO YOU KNOW?” I guess we will never know.
I don’t know it to be a custom or tradition in Antigua and Barbuda; but I’d like to hear from some of the Jurors who thought Wayne Thomas and Lasean Bully should be acquitted.
Testimony was presented that four people were involved. The prosecutor main witness, theme thee accused and most important the person who ordered the hit on Nigel Christian’s life.
If a government senior civil servant can be kidnapped in front of his mother, and brutally murdered. Who is safe in this country?
As the election approaches and ABLP is flooding Barbuda with over 75 police officers; I say: Keep these criminals out of Barbuda.
And Cutie Benjamin promised a law school at Five Islands jr. College while we import nurses from Africa.
If such irrationally can be promoted without pushback; then any thing can happen in Antigua and Barbuda.
The trial surrounding the murder of Asot Micheal will be equally interesting.
Was abduction included in the charges against the accused?
Pompey come on u know very well that the evidence has to match to prove u were there is u are saying not guilty……The entire case the only evidence was pointing directly to Harrigan I want to believe there was none to prove the others were….They always pound in the jurors heads work with the evidence presently not by your feelings….A person can kill and is even seen leaving with the person like Vincia James case but there is no direct evidence to prove u murdered the individual u must walk….Sad but so it works….They said they were not there no matter who said they were and there is nothing to prove they were….The Crown Witness already got his deal for talking so he walks also….Jus Harrigan phone ping to location etc…….
I am very happy to realized more people have come to the conclusion “antigua isn’t a real place” corruption ,nepotism, immortality, lack of integrity, accountability, dishonesty and injustice is of common place here. You realized the police not taking up the lead from statements that were made during testimonies from the witness? A name was called that allegedly paid the men to carry out the crime . In Antigua, money can buy you freedom. Your connections ,who you know ,what you have etc. No wonder our customs and police officers sometimes cannot carry out their duties without political interference. People connected to politicians caught red handed by custom at post office that were accompanied by politician importing illegal drugs ,the issue just disappeared. No wonder every body is on a get rich scheme at any cost. We are in a sad state! Even so call Christians get involved in the illegality to live a life style. Just using the church as a cover. Smh.
@straight.
You are absolutely right.
When the very leader of a nation has no integrity whatsoever, well this is the results of such nations. People in Antigua look at murders like it’s justifiable and totally normal behavior..
We have a copy-cat society, so when people see that everyone is getting away with murder these days, then even the young are emboldened to disrespect the call for peace and harmony amongst each other.
Sad state of affairs indeed.
Not everyone has to go to hell folks..please get rid of evil leaders, they will be the death of your nation..we have seen it played out in history over and over.
Remember the jury has to make decisions based on the CHARGE brought EVIDENCE presented. The DPP and police don’t have a good record in that area. It would be interesting to know what other charges are brought against the acquitted.
This case clearly shows, that Law Enforcement (Police) are trying to solve difficult cases/crimes of the 21st Century with 2Otb Century technology’s in part and it seems like training as well.
One thing is certain, the Defense Attorneys did a fabulous job shredding the DPP Case to pieces.
Who knows where did and how did things get to this point. First of all the MOTIVE and the allegation of an ordered hit on a senior public official is very concerning.
Next, the allegations that law enforcement was given the intel about this murder prior to the actual murder and presumably did nothing (very concerning).
Again, these crimes are of a caliber which the local law enforcement is having difficulties bringing them to a close.
Next up, the Chantel case is gonna be another test of the DPP’s office.
Asot’s could be problematic but the accused allegedly confessed, but he could retract his statement and said it was under duress.
While many may be saying, that crimes happens everywhere, again, in terms of population Antigua is a hick town a blip on many States Highways; but, if crimes of these types were occurring in these European. Canadian or Americann HICK TOWNS, heads would be rolling up hill.
Jumbee_
This case is unbelievable! I just cannot understand this verdict . I read all the comments and I agreed with every comment . How did those juries came to that verdict ? This is one for the comic book !!
Comments are closed.