Final charge against former murder accused dropped

A Jamaican national has once again walked free from serious criminal charges.

Methoni Vernon’s latest triumph came on Monday when prosecutors withdrew an aggravated robbery charge against him.

This latest development follows Vernon’s earlier acquittal in February 2025 from a capital murder charge, a case that hinged on procedural irregularities surrounding his extradition.

His attorney, Andrew O’Kola, successfully challenged the legal mechanisms that brought Vernon from Dominica to Antigua to face trial.

The charges stemmed from a violent incident on July 1, 2014, when farmer Roy Carradice, 47, was brutally murdered during a robbery near the Cassada Gardens Racetrack.

Carradice was shot multiple times during the attack, which initially drew significant legal scrutiny.

During Monday’s High Court proceedings before Justice Tunde Bakre, the prosecution withdrew the aggravated robbery charge, which was connected to the earlier murder case.

Following the withdrawal, Justice Bakre formally discharged Vernon.

Vernon’s legal journey has been marked by technical complexities, including questions about the timing and legitimacy of his initial charging.

He was reportedly not officially charged when he initially left Antigua shortly after the killing, with formal charges only emerging after his 2016 extradition.