RVIPF seeking public’s help to solve BVI’s first homicide of 2023

By MERRICK ANDREWS
Online News Editor

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is again calling on members of the public — to assist in solving the BVI’s first homicide of 2023: the gunning down of former murder accused Yan Edwards last Monday at a bar in Parham Town, East End.

“Officers of the Major Investigation Team are appealing to witnesses who could help to identify the assailant or assailants to contact Crime stoppers anonymously at 800-8477 or +1284 800-8477. Alternatively, persons can contact 368-9345,” the RVIPF said in a press release.

No one else was injured in the shooting, the RVIPF said.

Edwards, 42, of Long Look, was shot while reportedly seated at a popular Parham Town bar.

The incident occurred after 6 p.m. when a car pulled up at the business establishment and shots were fired.

Edwards is no stranger to the law.

He along with Allen Baptiste were both sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2013 for the death of Keri Harrigan, who was shot to death in Long Look on March 16, 2011.

However, in 2018, Court of Appeal judges threw out the convictions of both men and ordered a retrial.

On December 2, 2013 Edwards along with Rodney Simmonds Jr. were sentenced to seven years and five years, respectively, after they had been found guilty of conspiring to murder Cornel Melbourne Francis.

At the time, Edwards was serving the life sentence for Harrigan’s murder – a conviction which was eventually squashed.

Edwards reportedly was released on bail last year — awaiting a retrial in the Harrigan case — after trying many times to obtain freedom.