Published 04 August 2018
Buckke Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
STATEMENT ON EXTRADITION OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS NATIONAL TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Keith Oniel Braid alias Christopher Antonio Nile, subject of extradition proceedings in the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, was charged with two (2) counts of attempted second-degree murder in the State of Florida. His criminal prosecution began on September 01, 2016 in the Orange County Court in the State of Florida, and on September 01, 2017 the Defendant entered into a plea agreement whereby he pleaded no contest to the charges.
In accordance with the terms of Mr. Braid’s plea agreement he remained free until the date of his sentencing which was set for the September 28, 2017. On that date the Defendant did not appear before the Orange County Court in the State of Florida.
The Defendant arrived in the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis on board a cruise vessel on November 29, 2017, under the name Christopher Antonio Nile. He disembarked the vessel and remained in the Federation. Upon their departure, authorities aboard the cruise vessel discovered he was missing and made a report to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. Following the issuing of a news bulletin, he turned himself in to the Basseterre Police Station on November 30, 2017. Police investigations discovered his real identity to be Keith Oneil Braid and that he was wanted by the United States Authorities.
On the December 15, 2017 a provisional request for extradition of Keith Oniel Braid, otherwise known as Christopher Antonio Nile, was made by the U.S. State Department to the local competent authority. The provisional arrest was executed on January 11, 2018. A formal request for extradition was made on February 22, and that formal request for extradition was received in April 2018.
An extradition hearing was conducted by Magistrate His Honour Reynold Benjamin on June 05, 2018. On June 15, 2018, the Magistrate committed Mr. Braid to Her Majesty’s Prison to await the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs as to his extradition. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Valston M. Graham, and Crown Counsel, Greatess Gordon, appeared on behalf of the United States of America.
Mr. Braid was advised of his right to file a writ of Habeas Corpus within fifteen (15) days of the date of the Magistrate’s order if he wished to challenge the Magistrate’s decision and prevent his extradition. The fifteen (15) days expired on July 02, 2018. No writ of Habeas Corpus was filed by or on behalf of Mr. Braid. A copy of the Magistrate’s warrant for committal of Mr. Braid to prison to await his extradition was also forwarded to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On July 30, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a warrant for the surrender of Mr. Braid to authorities from the United States of America. This surrender took place on Friday August 03, 2018.
