Execution style murder! Norford allegedly used post-Irma prison break to kill victim
Brain damage and brain compression were the fatal results for 43-year-old Julio Pineda Ceasar who died after being shot twice at close range four days after Hurricane Irma struck the territory back in September 2017.
This was revealed on Wednesday when 28-year-old St Kitts native, Andraes Norford, made his first appearance for the murder charge before Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo.
Norford was not made to plead because his matter is indictable and therefore triable before a judge and jury in the High Court.
Allegations
The court heard that Norford was reportedly among inmates who had escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison in the aftermath of the catastrophic hurricane.
On September 10, 2017, Ceasar, who operated a cash-for-gold business, was visited by an associate to conduct business.
Shortly after, three men, armed with guns and a machete stormed his private residence in East End and the associate fled the scene, the court heard.
The court also heard that the first assailant who had been identified as Norford, approached Caesar — and following a brief struggle — allegedly shot him in the head. The deceased fell face down on the floor, and the second assailant then fired a second gunshot to his body before the trio fled the scene in a green Suzuki jeep, which was owned by Caesar’s associate who had fled earlier.
The police were called, and the victim was transported to the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital where he remained until December 4, 2017, where he succumbed to the injuries.
The autopsy was later determined that the cause of death was brain damage and brain compression as a result of the close-range gunshot wound to his head.
Eyewitness reports
Allegations are that — based on the description of suspects and subsequent police investigations — the accused and two other individuals were identified as those responsible for the fatal shooting.
Investigations also revealed that the accused and others were allegedly seen in the East End area moments before and after the incident.
Eyewitnesses also allegedly placed Caesar’s aforesaid associate driving his vehicle with Norford and two others. Eyewitnesses said the men allegedly stopped at a residence in East End and appeared to be looking for someone.
When they did not find the person that they were looking for, they left and were seen heading in the direction of the deceased man’s residence.
Norford was charged on suspicion of murder on January 15, 2020 and opted to remain silent during his audiovisual interview.
The names of the others involved, nor the eyewitnesses were not revealed, as it would impact the ongoing investigation, the court heard.
Bail
The court was unable to facilitate a bail hearing as the matter was not under its jurisdiction. However, the Crown said they would be objecting to bail if the matter arose at the High Court.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 26.
Norford is currently unrepresented in this matter and was remanded.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Just wondering if the victim’s family have cause to sue the prison due to negligence. He left the prison to commit the crime while under the prison watch.
The prison was destroyed by an act of nature, please explain to me how the prison would held responsible for negligence?
This guy need to cut the locks off his head. He disrespected the true rasta culture. The victim family should hire an attorney. The guy manage to WALK OUT or WAS LET OUT of prison to commit the crime while under the watch of the prisoner system.
Did you see him commit the murder? Y’all need to shut the hell up
The others fled to the Dominican Republic .
Police question them, why they let them go..
I guess the 2 of you can’t read or have a problem comprehending… after the hurricane didnt the prison got damage and prisoners escape the facility? The question that needs to be ask is why his business associate conspire with 3 convicts to kill him?
Shut the f**k up! He was under the prison responsibility, they knew the storm was coming, They should have had a plan in place to secure the prisoners. Yes, I would file a lawsuit against the prison.
No lawyer worth his salt would take your case..
It was after the hurricane, everything was chaotic and the guy probably had cash and/or gold on him so they saw an opportunity to deal with him during all the madness. Sad!
“Since Hurricane Irma, government officials have given various explanations for how dozens of inmates were able to leave Her Majesty’s Prison and temporarily roam the community in the days after the storm — even as two inmates remain at large today.
Residents could get answers soon.
BVI Beacon Article – An “independent review” is under way to examine what exactly happened at the prison, and it could be released as early as next month, Governor Gus Jaspert confirmed in an interview earlier this month.
The governor said the report will be examined from a security standpoint before release, but that he won’t keep the information from the public.
“There’s nothing I would want to hold back on,” he said.
Mr. Jaspert admitted that there is a difference between the inmates who “escaped” and those who were “enabled to go and see their family,” but after a follow-up question from the Beacon he declined to say specifically if he meant that some prisoners were allowed to leave.
“Let’s wait for the report, because I’d rather quote directly from that. As I say, there’s a mixture of what the prisoners did and what happened there,” he said, offering to speak further after the report is released.” – BVI Beacon article
Was it really verified that he escaped or was allowed out?
We the general public were aware that prisoners were allowed out at the times of those hurricanes.
Why is the Government still portraying the lie that prisoners escaped? They were sent home and ultimately abandoned because the facility was destroyed and personell weren’t coming in to work in those conditions!
Prisoners were on the road, amongst law enforcement, shoulder to shoulder with us residents after the storm like it was nothing.
While most behaved themselves, scum like this one went out to do foolishness and now look, a murder. The thing wasn’t done right, but y’all going to continue running this narrative and lying to make yourselves look less incompetent than you already proving to be.
If what you saying is true, then the family of the victim have grounds to sue.
It is true, there was prisoners walking among us during the storms. There were also prisoners who stayed behind and did not leave the prison even though they could have. The family of the victim have good cause to file a law suit against the prison, the prison is responsible, he was under their watch and they allow him to walk out/were let out to commit the crime.
Typical Government Departments but time longer than twine
They are going to cover this up? The prison was responsible.
They are going to cover this up? The prison was responsible.
Section of the Article
“Bail
The court was unable to facilitate a bail hearing as the matter was not under its jurisdiction. However, the Crown said they would be objecting to bail if the matter arose at the High Court.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 26.
Norford is currently unrepresented in this matter and was remanded.”
How can bail even be considered if he’s already in prison?
Exactly. All these people is a**!
Is it the first time that an inmate has committed murder on the street?
Spanish people know he live long, all of ah sudden he ah jewel man, he touch the rite jewel. Police have the wrong guy, only because he drive the man he was doing business with vehicle they say he the killer, who knows maybe pol..ce self done him
Our prison guards are just glorified security guards. You pay for what you get but at the same it would have been hard to force anyone to show up at the job especially in those kind of conditions to do that kind of job. From East to West prisoners were roaming the streets so it’s good that we didn’t have more situations like this one. We have to ensure that all essential facilities like the prison are able to withstand most disasters and that staff are trained and prepared to respond in all emergency situations.
St.Kitts Again.
Triste y lamentable,pero una cosa les puedo decir de la justicia de dios nadie escapará y tengo fe de que así será R.I.P
Cesar pineda
STFU!!