Published 9 April 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Leanna’s Brother, Two Others To Stand Trial For Her Murder
St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The three young men accused of murdering 17-year-old Leanna Napoleon in May 2017 have been committed to stand trial in the high court.
The high school student went missing on May 8 after writing a CXC exam that morning. On June 14, her remains were discovered in a shallow grave in the Olivees hills which border the northern end of Buckleys.
Three days later Leanna’s brother 19-year-old Brandon Lee Wells of Bucklely’s Housing Development, who was at the time a suspect in her disappearance was arrested and charged with murder.
Two of his associates were also charged with murder-Travien Liddie, an 18-year-old male resident of St. Johnston’s Village and 19-year-old Ivan “Chinyman” Phillip of Shadwell.
An autopsy revealed Leanna died from blunt force trauma to the head.
The Preliminary Inquiry began on January 29th but had several adjournments. Director of Public Prosecutions Valston Graham and police prosecutor Trevorn Richards represented the Crown. Defense attorney Chesley Hamilton represented Wells, Natasha Grey for Liddie, and Jason Hamilton for Phillip.
On Friday Chief magistrate Josephine Mallalieu ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the trio to be tried for the teen’s murder. The young men were returned to Her Majesty’s Prison having been remanded without bail when charged.
