A high-profile murder trial opened under stringent security protocols as three defendants faced charges for the abduction and killing of senior Customs official Nigel Christian. The proceedings commenced before Justice Rajiv Persaud with the selection of an eleven-member jury panel, comprising five men and six women, plus two alternates, following extensive vetting by both prosecution and defense teams.
The accused—Lasean Bully, Wayne Thomas, and Saleim Harrigan—each entered not guilty pleas. The prosecution is led by Director of Public Prosecutions Clement Joseph and Curtis Cornelius, while the defense is represented by attorneys Sherfield Bowen, Michael Archibald, and Wendel Alexander.
In an unusual security measure, all members of the public were subjected to searches before being permitted entry into the courtroom. Prosecutors outlined their case, alleging that on July 10, 2020, the defendants—wearing camouflage attire and impersonating police officers—forcibly took the 44-year-old Christian from his residence in McKinnons. His body was subsequently discovered in Thibou’s with fatal gunshot wounds.
The trial is anticipated to extend over six weeks, with more than fifty witnesses scheduled to provide testimony. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the victim’s senior government role and the brazen nature of the crime.