75.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesLettsome Murder Trial Gets Under Way

Lettsome Murder Trial Gets Under Way

Aug. 7, 2006 – The first-degree murder trial of Rennell Lettsome began Monday in Superior Court with a stream of prosecution witnesses testifying for more than nine hours.
Lettsome is charged with the Oct. 29, 2005, murder of St. John resident David Geiger.
Prosecutor Ernest Bason, chief of the V.I. Justice Department's Criminal Division, described in graphic detail how Lettsome had entered Geiger's home and murdered him.
"This is case of 'home sweet home'," Bason told the nine-woman/three-man jury in his opening statement. "It's about being safe in your own home."
Bason said Lettsome bludgeoned Geiger's 14-year-old son and left him for dead; the boy survived, however, and is still receiving medical treatment for head injuries that Bason said will last his entire life.
While Bason described Lettsome as a "cold-blooded killer," defense attorney Pedro Williams described Lettsome as a "loving father."
Police officers from the British Virgin Islands detailed a confession Lettsome made when he turned himself in to BVI authorities on Nov. 29, 2005.
As the day wore on, Bason's opening statement seemed to be supported by witness testimony.
Bason said he has seven more witnesses to call Tuesday, including two FBI forensic agents who are expected to testify about DNA in blood samples sent by V.I. Police forensic unit Detective David Monoson, who testified at length on Monday.
Bason said the prosecution should finish with its witnesses on Tuesday.
Williams said defense witnesses will begin Wednesday.
Judge Brenda Hollar said the trial should be finished by the end of the week.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.