Rodney Simmonds Jr. is believed to be the mastermind behind the Moneygram robbery and the brains behind the death of Keri Harrigan. Photo: VINO.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Keri Harrigan lost his life because Rodney Simmonds Jnr.,22, the alleged mastermind behind the Moneygram robbery, thought he was in possession of the $193,000 stolen in the heist.
Mr. Harrigan, 26, was killed on the evening of March 16, 2011 while he was hanging out with friends at the Sticket, Long Look.
Mr. Simmonds, Yan Edwards and Allen Baptiste, 32, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon to answer murder charges. The men were not required to plea.
The trio was charged with murder and the conspiracy to murder Mr. Harrigan, while Mr. Edwards and Mr. Simmonds were also charged with conspiracy to murder Melbourne Francis.
Yan Edwards is one of the alleged trigger men. Photo: VINO
Acting Principal Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe told the court the trail of violence began on the day of the Moneygram robbery – January 21, 2011.
She disclosed that the Moneygram robbers left the cash in the vicinity of the ‘ghetto’ in Road Town where it was found and taken by persons unknown.
The Senior Crown Counsel said that Mr. Simmonds , the alleged mastermind of the robbery, believed that Mr. Harrigan and Mr. Francis along with other persons were in possession of the cash.
In light of this, Mr. Simmonds contacted Mr. Edwards and conspired with him to kill the two men.
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Allen Baptiste allegedly shot Harrigan thrice. Photo: VINO
The court heard that Mr. Simmonds and Mr. Edwards, along with other persons, set out to kill Mr. Francis on March 13, 2011. It is alleged that Mr. Edwards, a fire officer, shot at the vehicle Mr. Francis was driving in Nottingham Estate. He survived the attempt on his life.
The following day, March 14, 2011, Mr. Edwards along with Mr. Baptiste and Mr. Simmonds made arrangements to kill Mr. Harrigan, Ms. Scatliffe informed the court.
And it was on March 16, 2011 around 7:15 pm, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Baptiste went looking for Mr. Harrigan and according to the Senior Crown Counsel Scatliffe, Mr. Baptiste, 32, in disguise shot Mr. Harrigan three times in the head.
The court also heard that the Moneygram robbery, the attempted murder of Mr. Francis and Mr. Harrigan’s killing will all be conducted in one preliminary inquiry (PI), as they are all intertwined. Ms. Scatliffe notified Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens that detectives are still in the process of getting witnesses’ statements, therefore the file will be ready in two to three weeks. The matter is up for report on April 20.
The trio is on remand.
Stephen Daniels is representing Mr. Edwards, while Duane Jean Baptiste was hired by Mr. Simonds and Mr. Baptiste.
The Crown’s team comprises Ms. Scatliffe, Crown Counsels Valston Graham and Lelise Ann Faulkner.
Meanwhile, Senior Investigating Officer at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Detective Inspector Nigel Niven, in a press release, expressed gratitude for the public’s input in helping to combat crime and appealed for continued assistance.
“Our investigation into these grave and serious crimes will continue. We have had a good response from the public and this has helped us tremendously. However, I know that there are other people out there who have information that will also be important to us. I appeal for these people to make contact,” Mr. Niven said.
Members of the public who have any information in relation to these matters are asked to call the Special Investigation Unit directly on 468 2718. All information received will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively contact can be made and information passed through the confidential and anonymous hotline – CrimeStoppers on 0800 8477.
If was their parent. I wasnt wasting no lawyer money…case closed!!!
U only saying taht b cuz it is not ur child in trouble
I am sad today almost whole generation of our youth we are loosing…look at these three young men all under 30 years old and now accused of this crime. My lord my lord why has have you forsaken the BVI???
my dear the question is in 5-10-20-40 years who will be there to pick up the inheritances, at the current pace it will be foreigners. Why cant the churches and parents pray for the bvi without prejudice and without ceasing? it is obvious that there is a plot to disenfranchise local young men and to distroy the character of older ones by the hook-death or by the crook-attraction and involvement in crime
Where are the parents, churches, mentors, youth groups, Department of Youth, after school programmes?? Where? Everybody is just playing politicks and not really helping these children
Oh, shut the heck up! Three grown men doing dirt of their own free will and it’s the fault of the churches and the government and lack of after school programs?
Y’all keep letting your children roam the streets at all kinds of ungodly hours and then expect churches and schools and elected officials to work magic? What you put in is what you get out. If you neglect your parental responsibilities, then they will become the responsibility of the state. It is as simple as that!
Have some common sense please 911 is right we all need to do the best we can how would you like to walk in those guys parents shoes come on is people like you who having this place so we need to work together and do the best we can for our young people, for each other the bible says if we turn from our evil ways humble ourselves and pray for the British Virgin islands he will hear our prayers and heal our land. We need to stop with the mentality we have.
the Lord has have (as you put it) not forsaken the BVI; we rather, have turned our backs.
Because tola full a wicked selfsish and arrogant ppl dat think dem better dan everybody else. Mr. Simmonds fada, aunts and uncles does walk round with dem nose in the air like dem betta den ppl. A lil shame good for them, mite take dem off them high horse.
So u going tell me, this 22 yr old ordered 2 men who are 8 and 10 years older than him to go out and execute someone cause he came to believe the guy had the money that was taken from MG robbery that occured? He must be the GodFather. Only in the movies you see stupid crap like this, but they want to act like Tortola is bigger than what it is and expect to Walk scot free. Wow. What a thing! What is the BVI coming to.
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, shine, shine, shine” – what’s in the dark WILL come to light one day (don’t be misled by the overcast). So to all those who think that they have done the perfect crime (or envisage) will one day face the Real Director and Producer. Remember, in Hollywood there is a walk of Fame, in the BVI we house the walk of Shame! So let’s not forget where you’re at and the ROLE you play ‘cause this is certainly not Hollywood.
Just Wow! If this is true those animals need the death penalty. Its the only way. Why we have to spend our tax dollars feeding them.
I have 2 questions? What amt of money is wired from the BVI on a daily/weekly basis & What percent the govt gets. Just curious.
Jah Bless, good question……too much money leaving the BVI and a small percentage STAYS here!!