Neville Turnbull Potter. Photo:stcroixsource

Potter, also known as ‘Beans’, featured as a suspect in the 2006 investigation conducted by the RVIPF but fled the Territory shortly after the murder of Browne.

The police investigation into the murder of Vere Browne Jr. revealed that on the night of 21 August 2006 he was at home when he received a call on his mobile phone. Directly after taking the call Browne told his girlfriend he was going out. Shortly after 11pm he left driving his blue Mitsubishi car. This was the last time Browne was seen alive.

On leaving his home, Browne drove to the western section of Butu Mountain, then a quiet location above Road Town. Soon after, a series of shots were heard by residents in the area. Early the next morning Browne was found dead beside his car at a pull off by the road. He had been shot multiple times with a large calibre assault type weapon.

The police later established that the phone call received by Browne was made by Potter on a borrowed cell phone. Potter later instructed the cell phone owner to destroy the phone SIM card. However, the SIM card was later recovered by the police. The police also established that Potter had left his own home that night at around 11 pm prior to the shooting and returning after the shooting at around midnight. Potter, soon after, fled the Territory for the USVI and at the time Police did not have sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant.

Potter, a US citizen, is currently serving two life sentences, without the chance for parole, in the USVI having been convicted of the 1st degree murders of Marvis Chamaro and Jack Diehl in February 2009. Both men were shot and killed in the Mandahl Bay area of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Potter stood trial and was convicted in September 2011. Potter later appealed against his conviction but in June 2012 the appeal was denied.

The RVIPF Major Crime Team continued to investigate the murder of Browne and sought to interview Potter on two separate occasions but both times he refused to answer their questions.

As a result of this investigation a file of evidence was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The advice from the DPP was to instigate proceedings against Potter.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwin James explained that while the RVIPF will not be seeking to extradite Potter, it is hoped by commencing these proceedings and issuing an arrest warrant it will help to bring some closure to the Browne family and to reassure the community.

“We are pleased that the police investigation has yielded sufficient evidence to instigate proceedings and issue an arrest warrant. Had Potter been in our Territory we would have arrested him and charged him in the murder of Vere Browne Jr.”

He added “We did not want to compromise the USVI case with any undue publicity, so we delayed our present course of action in the case in the event Potter escaped conviction in the US,”

The file of evidence submitted to the DPP contained 24 statements from witnesses and listed 8 key exhibits.

Acting Commissioner of Police David Morris sees this arrest warrant as yet another indication that the RVIPF will continue to investigate all homicides regardless of when they occurred.

“We will continue to review and investigate all cases, seek fresh evidence and consider modern forensic opportunities. We will then liaise with the DPP Office and take their advice.” he said.

He added “In this case Potter is already serving two whole life time sentences in the USVI. That means the public is safe from him and although we will not be seeking his extradition back to the BVI it is important that we established who was involved in this murder for the sake of the family and the Territory”

The Acting Commissioner concluded that the charge laid out is conspiracy to murder. Therefore, Police continue their investigations to identify others involved in the murder.

The family of Vere Browne Jr. has been and will continue to be kept up to date with the investigation.

A reward of up to $100,000.00 is still being offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of others responsible for the murder of Vere Brown Junior. All information will be treated in complete confidence. All reward payment amounts will be decided upon by the Commissioner of Police.