Detectives from the police’s Major Crime Team have obtained an arrest warrant accusing Neville Turnbull Potter, 34, of conspiracy to commit the murder of Vere Browne Jr., who was killed on Aug. 21, 2006

But, because Mr. Potter is serving a life sentence in the United States Virgin Islands, authorities do not intend to seek his extradition, according to a police press release

Mr. Potter, also known as “Beans,” was a suspect in the 2006 investigation, but he fled the territory shortly after the murder, the press release states.

On the night of the killing, police said, Mr. Browne was at home when he received a call on his mobile phone. Directly after taking the call, he told his girlfriend he was going out. Shortly after 11 p.m., he left driving his blue Mitsubishi car. This was the last time friends or family members saw him alive, according to the press release.

On leaving his home, Mr. Browne drove to the western section of Butu Mountain, then a quiet location above Road Town, police said. Soon after, a series of shots were heard by residents in the area.

Early the next morning, Mr. Browne was found dead beside his car at a pull-off by the road. He had been shot multiple times with a large caliber assault weapon, police said.

 

Phone call

Police later established that the phone call the victim received was made by Mr. Potter on a borrowed cell phone. Mr. Potter subsequently instructed the cell phone owner to destroy the phone’s SIM card, but the card was later recovered by the police, the press release states.

The police also said that Mr. Potter had left his own home that night at around 11 p.m. prior to the shooting and returned after the shooting at around midnight.

Soon after, Mr. Potter fled the territory for the United States Virgin Islands, but “at the time police did not have sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant,” the press release states.

 

In prison

Mr. Potter, a US citizen, is currently serving two life sentences, without the chance for parole, in the USVI, having been convicted of the first-degree murders of Marvis Chamaro and Jack Diehl in February 2009.

Both men were shot and killed in the Mandahl Bay area of St. Thomas. Mr. Potter stood trial and was convicted in September 2011, police said. He later appealed against his conviction, but in June the appeal was denied.

The Major Crime Team continued to investigate Mr. Browne’s murder, but on two separate occasions Mr. Potter refused to answer their questions, according to the press release.

As a result of this investigation, a file of evidence was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The DPP advised police to start proceedings against Mr. Potter, according to the press release.

 

No extradition

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Alwin James explained that while the police will not seek Mr. Potter’s extradition, they hope that commencing the proceedings and issuing an arrest warrant will help bring some closure to Mr. Browne’s family and reassure the community.

“We are pleased that the police investigation has yielded sufficient evidence to instigate proceedings and issue an arrest warrant. Had Potter been in our territory we would have arrested him and charged him in the murder of Vere Browne Jr.,” Mr. James said, adding, “We did not want to compromise the USVI case with any undue publicity, so we delayed our present course of action in the case in the event Potter escaped conviction in the US.”

The file of evidence submitted to the DPP contained 24 statements from witnesses and listed eight key exhibits, according to police.

 

Investigation ongoing

Acting Police Commissioner David Morris said the warrant shows that the police will continue to investigate all homicides regardless of when they occurred.

“We will continue to review and investigate all cases, seek fresh evidence and consider modern forensic opportunities. We will then liaise with the DPP Office and take their advice,” he said.

He added that police will continue their investigations to identify others involved in Mr. Browne’s murder. A reward of up to $100,000 is still being offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of others responsible for the killing.

All information will be treated in complete confidence, and reward payment amounts will be decided by the police commissioner, the press release said.