PRESS RELEASE: Murder charge dropped after State misconduct deemed abuse of process

On 10 February 2025, the High Court in Antigua ruled that it would be unfair to allow the criminal proceedings against Methoni Vernon to continue after concerns were raised about a 2016 covert police operation to bring Mr Vernon from Dominica to Antigua.

In an application to the Court, Mr Vernon’s legal team accused the Antiguan State of conducting an unlawful operation to bring Mr Vernon from Dominica to Antigua. The court rejected the prosecution’s attempts to legitimise the police’s conduct.

In its ruling, the High Court found that the proper legal processes to extradite Mr Vernon were not followed and Mr Vernon had been “forcefully” taken from Dominica to Antigua to be arrested. The Court held that it would be an abuse of the court’s process to proceed with the prosecution of Mr Vernon.

Background

On 16 January 2016, following discussions between the Dominican and Antiguan police forces, Mr Vernon was placed on a plane by the Dominican authorities to affect his removal from the jurisdiction. Mr Vernon was told that he was being deported to Jamaica.

He was instead placed on a plane to Antigua with no plans for onward to travel to Jamaica. Unbeknownst to Mr Vernon, at the direction of the then Antiguan Commissioner of Police, Wendel Alexander, two undercover Antiguan officers were on board the plane and seated close to him, having travelled to Dominica to accompany Mr Vernon on the flight. The Antiguan police became aware of Mr Vernon’s presence in Dominica when an officer travelled there on vacation in December 2015, leading them to begin working with the Dominican authorities.

As soon as the plane touched down in Antigua, Mr Vernon was arrested by one of the officers on the plane. He was not cautioned and no reason was given for his arrest. A group of Antiguan officers were waiting on the tarmac and Mr Vernon was taken straight to the Antiguan Police Headquarters. He was later charged with the murder of Roy Carridice, who was killed in Antigua on 1 July 2014.

Mr Vernon’s trial began in May 2018 but was cut short when evidence given during the proceedings suggested that there had been an unlawful covert operation to bring Mr Vernon from Dominica to Antigua. Complaints were also raised that Mr Vernon had been beaten by police during an interrogation when he arrived in Antigua.

The proceedings were stayed for Mr Vernon to obtain new legal representation.

Abuse of Process Application

On 27 June 2024, Mr Vernon’s legal team filed an application to stay the proceedings on the grounds that they were an abuse of process.

The removal was facilitated outside of the legal procedures in either of the jurisdictions. Mr Vernon was denied the opportunity to legal representation and was never placed before a court to appeal the decision to deport him, as required by law, given that he had significant family ties to Dominica.

Mr Vernon’s abuse of process application highlighted that the State’s actions were knowingly unlawful. The evidence showed that there was an organised operation to unlawfully render Mr Vernon to Antigua. The Antiguan officers took steps to conceal their identity as police officers, and to detain Mr Vernon on the plane whilst it stopped in Guadaloupe “in the event that [he] tried to flee”, despite being well aware that they had no authority to exercise their powers as police officers whilst Mr Vernon was not in Antigua.

Mr Vernon’s legal team argued that the actions of the State were so egregious that it would be unfair to subject Mr Vernon to a criminal trial.

Following a hearing before Honourable Justice Tunde Bakre on 27 January 2025, the High Court found that proceeding to prosecute Mr Vernon following these events amounted to an abuse of process and Mr Vernon was discharged.

Bethany Jackson, Legal Officer at The Death Penalty Project said:

“The right to a fair trial is fundamental to the integrity of the entire legal system. We are delighted that the Court has dismissed the charges against Methoni, recognising the complete disregard the Antiguan State had for his constitutional rights. In this case, the State’s actions were so egregious that there was no possibility of Methoni receiving a fair trial, we are pleased that the Court has recognised this.”

Methoni Vernon said:

“I would like to say thank you to my team of lawyers for working hard around the clock to get my case dismissed and the charges dropped. I am grateful for the hard work of Bethany Jackson and the rest of the team at DPP. In addition, I would also like to thank Michael Polak and Andrew O’Kola for not giving up on me and for the fights you have put up with, it truly means a lot to my family, and we thank you.

To my aunty, Marcia Richard Thompson, you are awesome, you told me not to give up hope and we fought it through together, thank you. 

To inmates around the world, the circumstances we face today becomes our strength for tomorrow, never lose hope and never give up.”

Notes to editors

The Legal Team

Methoni was represented by Andrew O’Kola of OMO Law (Antigua), Michael Polak of Church Court Chambers and Director of Justice Abroad (UK) and The Death Penalty Project at Simons Muirhead Burton LLP.

The Death Penalty Project

The Death Penalty Project (DPP) is a legal action NGO based at and supported by London legal firm, Simons Muirhead Burton LLP. For more than three decades,  DPP has worked to protect the human rights of those facing the death penalty. We believe the death penalty is a cruel and inhuman punishment. We provide access to justice in all cases where there are fundamental human rights at stake.

For interview requests, quotes, or more information please contact DPP’s team: [email protected] and [email protected].