Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

USVI murder accused Tahira Charles denied bail

- Charles was shot at in VI, which resulted in Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith’ state vehicle being damaged
August 13th, 2016 | Tags: Tahira Charles shooting murder denied bail Accident
Tahira Charles (left) before and after (right) he was arrested for murder in the US Virgin Islands. Photo: VIC
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith's vehicle that was damaged due to the shooting incident involving Tahira Charles on July 31, 2016 on Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith's vehicle that was damaged due to the shooting incident involving Tahira Charles on July 31, 2016 on Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI — Tahira Charles, who was shot while on Tortola on July 31, 2016, will remain behind bars pending trial, US Virgin Islands (USVI) Superior Court Judge James Carroll III ruled Wednesday August 10, 2016, according to a press release the Superior Court issued Friday afternoon, August 12, 2016.

Mr Charles, 32, of Bovoni, is charged with one count each of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorised possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and first-degree reckless endangerment in relation to a shooting death that occurred earlier this year.

In his August 10 order denying Charles’ motion for pre-trial release, Judge Carroll determined that the People have demonstrated that the evidence against Mr Charles is reliable and that there is clear and convincing evidence for the charge of first-degree murder.

“Applying the law to the facts presented at the detention hearing, the likelihood that Charles committed first-degree murder is compelling,” Judge Carroll wrote.

Rehashing the facts of the case and evaluating the evidence collected during investigation, the court deemed as “reliable” the identification of Mr Charles as the perpetrator.

“Since there is such clear and convincing evidence of the crime of first-degree murder, Charles will be detained pending trial,” Judge Carroll concluded.

Murder charge

Mr Charles is charged with the murder of Caseam Daniel, who was shot and killed on June 25, 2016 in the area of First Stop Gas station.

According to an affidavit prepared by Detective Nigel James, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of the gas station where they found Daniel’s bullet-riddled body.

Footage from a surveillance camera showed a black BMW convertible bearing tag number TEF 376 arrive at the gas station with three occupants.  The driver, Devon Grant, exited the vehicle and went into the gas station’s convenience store. Mr  Charles, the front seat passenger, also came out of the vehicle; the third occupant stayed inside the vehicle, James wrote.

Mr Charles walked across the street to the area of Oswald Harris Court, where there was a group of individuals, including Daniel. Mr Charles appeared to get into an argument with Daniel. Then, Mr Charles took a gun from his pants and shot Daniel three times. He then fled the area. Based on the accounts of several witnesses and information from a confidential source, police determined that there was probable cause to arrest Mr Charles for Daniel’s murder, according to James’ affidavit.

Mr Charles’ arraignment hearing, at which he will formally answer to the charges, is slated for August 18, 2016.

Charles shot on Tortola

Following the shooting at Wickham’s Cay II on Tortola on July 31, 2016, The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force issued a press release on August 1, 2016, in which it said Charles, 32, a passenger in a white Suzuki, gave Police a fictitious name but was later positively identified as the man whose photo appeared on a USVI wanted poster for murder which was circulated.

Charles was repatriated on August 1 to the US territory.

Police had reported that a driver of a white Suzuki SUV travelling on the eastbound lane of the Sir Francis Drake Highway stated he was being pursued and shot at by men on a scooter near the Treasure Isle Hotel. In an attempt to evade the gunmen, the driver of the Suzuki crossed and entered the westbound lane where the Premier’s vehicle was at the time travelling on the westbound lane toward Road Town.

The driver of the Premier’s Cadillac Escalade took evasive action to avoid colliding into the white SUV, and collided into the Moorings fence causing extensive damage to the vehicle. The Premier was not at the time in the vehicle.

No one else was injured in the incident.

4 Responses to “USVI murder accused Tahira Charles denied bail”



Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.