St. Croix Contests 2020 Murder Conviction

St. Croix Contests 2020 Murder Conviction

The U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General’s Office is contesting the 2020 first-degree murder conviction of St. Croix resident Gabriel Callwood. Callwood was found guilty of the murder of 23-year-old Rashid Christian on March 11, 2021, after a four-day trial in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Attorney General’s Office argues that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to support the conviction, particularly regarding the identity of the shooter. They contend that the only eyewitness account was unreliable and that there was no physical evidence linking Callwood to the crime. In a motion filed on April 12, 2023, the Attorney General’s Office requested that the conviction be overturned and a new trial be ordered. The motion also seeks to suppress statements made by Callwood to law enforcement officers prior to being advised of his Miranda rights. Callwood’s defense attorney, Chesley Hamilton, has filed a response opposing the motion. Hamilton argues that the eyewitness testimony, coupled with other circumstantial evidence, was sufficient to sustain the conviction. He also contends that Callwood’s statements were made voluntarily and were not obtained in violation of his constitutional rights. The V.I. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on the motion in the coming months. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for Callwood’s future and the criminal justice system on St. Croix.Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Protests Conviction

Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Protests Conviction

John De St. Croix, a man imprisoned for life for murdering two people in 2018, staged a protest in front of a Bangor judge. St. Croix set fire to a van while Michael Bridges and Desiree York slept inside, resulting in their deaths. St. Croix challenged his murder conviction, and the state sought to dismiss his case due to its late filing. His lawyer argued that St. Croix’s mental health conditions, including PTSD, ADHD, and dyslexia, prevented him from meeting the one-year deadline. The defense cited St. Croix’s diagnosis, neglect, and COVID-19 infection after his conviction as mitigating factors. However, the state maintained that St. Croix was aware of the deadline and made a conscious decision to ignore it. The judge has decided to hear the case, despite the state’s objections. St. Croix has maintained that he was unaware of the need to file the petition earlier, while the defense emphasized his disabilities. The outcome of the protest remains uncertain, with the judge’s decision pending.St. Croix is appealing the 2020 murder conviction, arguing that the trial court erred in its instructions to the jury on the issue of self-defense. The appeal stems from the 2018 shooting death of John Doe. St. Croix was convicted of murder in 2020 and sentenced to life in prison. In its appeal, St. Croix argues that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that it could only consider self-defense if St. Croix reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of being killed or seriously injured. St. Croix argues that this instruction was too narrow and that it should have been allowed to present evidence that he reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of being killed or seriously injured. The state has until March 15 to file a response to St. Croix’s appeal.