‘Beast’ must face trial after deathbed identification – Court
A High Court judge has ruled that Selroy Hanley, known as “Beast”, will face trial for murder based on the hospital statement of a man who later died from his injuries.
Hanley is accused of stabbing Trevon Elliot on August 30, 2022, at the basketball court in Purcell Estate, Tortola. Elliot gave a detailed account from his hospital bed, identifying “Beast” as the man who attacked him with an ice pick after saying, “all Purcell man is punk”. He died in March 2023 from complications linked to the stabbing.
According to police testimony, Elliot described seeing Hanley, a man he had known for about a year, fixing his motor scooter near the court that morning. The statement said the attacker wore a green long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, and that the assault happened in bright daylight at close range. Elliot also recalled a previous altercation in which Hanley allegedly beat him with a shovel.
Officer Pheiona George told the court she recorded Elliot’s words in the emergency room, then returned the next day to read back the typed statement in the presence of medical social worker Ingrid Penn. Elliot, unable to sign, marked each page with an “X”.
Defence lawyers argued the statement should be excluded because no identification parade was held and the accused could not challenge the account through cross-examination. They also raised concerns about the lack of forensic testing. Prosecutors countered that this was a case of recognition, not identification, as both men knew each other well.
Justice Angelica Teelucksingh ruled that Elliot’s statement was of “reasonable quality” and that a fair trial was possible with proper jury warnings. She noted that recognition evidence can be reliable where the witness is familiar with the accused, and that an identification parade “would have served no useful purpose” in this case.
The court also heard that Hanley admitted in a police interview that he knew Elliot, whom he called “Lofty”, and confirmed details such as living in a pink wooden house behind the basketball court and being the brother of the owner of the nearby Kraven’s restaurant.
Hanley was initially charged with wounding with intent, but after Elliot’s death, the charge was upgraded to murder. He remains in custody as the case proceeds to trial.
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Because of a general statement this boy throw away his life for the next 20 plus years smh. What is wrong with these particular Hanley’s? These man don’t process emotions well?
I could see this one like hear say she say this is why talk tola could never get any better
Here you have the deceased identifying the person by name who stabbed him. He went further in describing what he was stabbed with and stating he and the attacker were familiar.
Yet the defense lawyer did not want that evidence introduced in court knowing full well that had the judge sided with his argument, it would have been next to impossible to convict the accused.
I don’t know how some of these lawyers can sleep at night? I know they have a job to do; however, I personally could not take such a case if I was a defense attorney just to get someone off knowing the victim identified their killer.
Let’s call his name: Trevon Elliot. He deserves justice.
That’s is why I could have never become a lawyer. Winning and making money is more important to many of them at any cost. Many will sell their souls for a dollar, and that’s unfortunate. Spare me he is doing his job. At what cost? Where is his conscience?
That young man had a family that loved him, and they need justice for him. He told the police what happened before he passed 7 months after the incident, yet this lawyer want that audio and transcribed evidence not to be presented to the court.
Thankfully, the judge thought otherwise, and allowed the evidence to go forward.
You know if you are man enough to allegedly stab this young man with an ice pick, be a man to admit you cause him harm which resulted in his death rather than trying to walk free. Only a true beast would do such and also defend you.
I strongly dislike injustice and these cowards who do their wrongs and want to escape accountability.
Imagine that, he used an ice pick allegedly during the attack.
Rather than being initially charged with wounding with intent, imo, he should have been charged with attempted murder. No one attacks another person with an ice pick without the intent to do them grave harm.
Do your job DPP. Trevon Elliot and his family are depending on you.
How some of these defence Lawyers live with themselves, don’t they know these things what they create cuss. A man died for heaven’s sake, and you’re trying to get off the suspect on a technicality.
This a old story? Didn’t the crown already lose this case? I see selroy by the shop just the other day he not in custody.
Say What? Old case? Crown already lost case? You saw him just the other day?
That does not seems possible. Read here on the case:
https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/rex-v-selroy-hanley
Ok then go up the prison and see if he up there since you so sure.
Strange. The article clearly states “He remains in custody as the case proceeds to trial.”
Nevertheless, you said you saw him by the shop the other day.
In these neck of the woods stranger things have happened. I cannot believe someone accused of murder is allowed to be out in the public like that.
The only thing that makes sense is if he was granted bail based on the original charge and is free pending trial if what you say is correct. I have no way to dispute your claim. You saw what you saw.
Maybe the author of this news report can clarify this.
I had to check the date of this news story thinking my feed pulled up an old story. I was surprised to see August 2020
This guy was tried and already walked free earlier this year in the Assizes
A other one
Always and forever young Black males with diirect family ties to the CARICOM chain of never ending atrocities on those who look like them.
Self hatred is a must. It manifests unexpectedly and interestingly but is always a must.
For instance.
These Itty Bvi lands once known and did indeed thrive as a result of the character of its people,sans crime, choose to “build up” their islands predominantly ineptly with the import of said CARICOM aliens, in spite of the obvious adverse degradation of our communities,schools,family structures,their values and the introduction and continuity of crimes of all variation. Self hatred is the cause ,hence the effect.
He was already tried and found Not Guilty
Unbelievable. Murder Paradise, where people kill and walk.
The man literally told them who did it before he died and they still couldn’t win the case lord help us.
Where was the newspaper reporter when the case was being tried in Court. This is so unprofessional to report a case long concluded as if it is “news”. Next time send your reporters to cover cases in Court if you want accurate and timely news to report to your readers.
OF THE VICTIM AND PERPETRATOR WHO IS GETTING BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THE STREETS , WE WANT THE WHOLE STORY AND EVERYTHING RELATED TO IT , THE TRUTH A AND THE WHOLE TRUTH NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH , AND A PICTUREOF THE DEFENCE LAWYER WILL BE NICE ADDITION
He really is a be@$t
Unless I blind I too saw in walking and riding about the streets in town all over the place.
So unless he got locked back or something thr court got this wrong
THE SO CALLED JUSTICE SYSTEM IS INVITING ( STREET JUSTICE ) BECAUSE IF THESE SET OF WANNABE GANSTERS CAN JUST KILL SOMEBODY AND JUST BE ALLOWED TO WALK AMONGST IN THE STREETS AND COLLECT THEIR FAME FOR TAKING OUT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AGAIN AND AGAIN , EVERYBODY ISN’T GOINT TO SHAKE THEIR AND MOURN THEIR LOSS / ” AN EYE FOR AN EYE MIGHT COME INTO PLAY ” AKA ” STREET JUSTICE ” THE ( D P P ) IS OBVIOUSLY A GHOST ON VACATION / MEANWHILE THOSE WANNABE ARISTOCRAT’S IS ONLY FOCUSING ON THE ALL MIGHTY * P O W E R * ” WHO DEAD ~ DEAD * AS LONG AS IT AIN’T THEIR FAMILY OR CLOSE FRIENDS )
What is a gangster clowns