Philipsburg:--- The seven suspects in the Vesuvius investigation that are currently behind bars as suspects in several murders, attempted murder, and weapons possession appeared in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday. The prosecutors believe that the seven suspects are in one way or another involved in the murders of Miguel and Rodolfo Arrindell, Kevin Gumbs, Eric Lake and Anthony Whyte while at least two of them are involved in the attempted murder of the St. Kitts national that was shot in his leg in Dutch Quarter. That case is known as the "Tan Tan investigation." The court was told that the person who it is believed shot Amador Jones is currently in custody in St. Kitts.
Wednesday's hearing was mainly to convince the judge that the suspects were arrested after severe suspicion of their involvement in multiple murders that occurred during 2011. While charges of some of the crimes were laid out before the court the prosecution requested from the court that they be given sufficient time to conduct their investigations and mainly to conclude the ballistics tests on the weapon's that were found at the various homes that were searched during and after the arrests of several of the suspect. The court has decided to postpone the trial until June 6th 2012. Some of the suspects were represented by Attorneys at law Brenda Brooks, Peggy Ann Brandon and Remko Stomp.
Security around the Court of House on Wednesday was upgraded to high. Police and snipers from the Zero Tolerance Team surrounded the court house hours before the suspects were transported to the Court of First Instance. Relatives of the suspects also flocked the area as early as 8am.
The first suspects were transported to the Court of First Instance in private vehicles. The first suspect was transported alone in his prison garb and with his eyes covered. His hearing was conducted alone while the other suspects came in twos an hour apart. The commotion and high amount of officers around the Court House attracted a huge crowd on Front Street.
Click here to view more photos of the scene around the Court of First Instance on Wednesday.
