Police hunt for third suspect
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ANOTHER person was charged with the murder of 17-year-old Leanna Napoleon, whose decomposing body was discovered on Wednesday night (Jun. 14) by police ranks in a shallow grave in the Olivees Mountain area.
According to a police communiqué, 18-year-old Travien Liddie of St. Johnson’s Village was charged today (Jun.19) for allegedly murdering Napoleon.
His charge follows on the heels of Napoleon’s 19-year-old brother, Brandon Lee Wells of Buckley’s Housing Development, who was charged on Saturday (Jun. 17) for the same offence.
Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of 19-year-old Ivan ‘Chineyman’ Phillip of Shadwell, who is also deemed a suspect in the teen’s murder.
Head of the Crime Directorate, Assistant Commissioner of Police Andre Mitchell had reportedly said: “I want to commend all the investigators on this case, the volunteers who assisted with the searches and the community for sharing what information they may have had. We followed every lead, the outcome was not what we hoped for, but the discovery gives the family and friends a starting point for healing.”
The ACP has reiterated the call for members of the public to refrain from the temptation of sharing rumours, adding that “the police will be forthcoming with the information we can provide in due course”.
The fifth form Basseterre High School student, who was residing with her adopted mother in Keys Village following the death of her biological mother some two years ago, was reported missing after she had written her CSEC EDPM exam at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College on Monday, May 8, 2017.
She was reportedly last seen on Fort Street, Basseterre in the afternoon of the day in question.
Since then, members of the Police Force, Defence Force, family members, friends and public-spirited citizens had conducted extensive searches in the Buckley’s, Keys and other areas for the missing girl without success.
Following her disappearance, police had taken a number of individuals into custody for questioning, but they were released.
Prior to arresting her brother hours after the body was discovered, police had taken him into custody on four occasions to assist with their investigation, but he too was subsequently released.
Leanna Napoleon has been the third female to have been killed in just over two months. Her death has taken to 15 the number of homicides committed in the Federation for this year; six on Nevis and nine on St. Kitts.
