ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – After more than four years of protracted delays and legal proceedings, the high-profile murder case of Senior Customs Officer Nigel Christian is finally proceeding to trial. The 44-year-old official was violently abducted from his McKinnons residence on July 10, 2020, and subsequently discovered in the Thibou’s area with fatal gunshot wounds, an incident that profoundly shocked the Caribbean nation.
The three defendants – Lasean Bully of Cashew Hill, Wayne Thomas of Hatton, and Saleim Harrigan of Greenbay – were formally charged with murder in April 2021. Their path to trial has been characterized by numerous adjournments, beginning in the All Saints Magistrate’s Court before the case was ultimately transferred to the High Court assizes in January 2023.
Further postponements extended the timeline until January 2024, when the accused parties collectively entered not guilty pleas during proceedings before Justice Ann-Marie Smith. The judicial process now moves forward with a trial date set for February 18 under the jurisdiction of Justice Rajiv Persaud, marking a significant development in a case that has captured national attention and highlighted challenges within the Caribbean judicial system.