Cop facing 2 counts first degree murder wants evidence suppressed
St. Croix, USVI. - Counsel for Virgin Islands Police Officer Jeffrey Browne has filed a motion to suppress evidence in the case involving the officer, his wife and brother-in-law, all charged in connection with a double homicide.
On Wednesday last, witnesses and arguments in support of and against the motion were heard by V.I. Superior Court Judge Francis D'Eramo.~~Adz:Right~~
The twenty-eight-year-old police officer and wife’s brother Luis Melendez, 24, were charged with killing 33-year-old Kennyetta McIntosh and 18-year-old Allen Burke and injuring four others when they opened fire on a group on December 25th, 2007.
The two men were arrested December 30, 2007 and held without bail while Marcella Browne, 22, was arrested February 4th, 2008 but released on bail.
The men face two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of first-degree assault as well as three counts of unauthorized use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, reckless endangerment and unauthorized possession of ammunition.
Browne’s wife was charged with accessory after the fact but will stand trial with the men. She reportedly admitted to police that she lied to investigators about what time the men arrived home on the night the shooting occurred.
A search of Browne’s vehicle had turned up a 12-gauge-shotgun shell which Browne’s attorney is seeking to have suppressed on the basis that the search was illegal.
All three have pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to the charges brought against them.
While Judge D'Eramo considers the defense’s motion and evidence presented by the state prosecutor, all court documents remain sealed.
Though originally slated for July, the trial has been rescheduled for November 3rd.
US Virgin Islands News