Defence attorneys in the murder trial of Saleim Harrigan, Wayne Thomas and Lasean Bully continued to challenge the integrity of forensic evidence on Friday, raising serious questions about how key items were documented and verified by investigators.
According to Antigua News Room, defence attorney Sherfield Bowen focused cross-examination on a bag recovered at Perry Bay that investigators linked to the victim, senior Customs official Nigel Christian, based on tea bags and Swiss chocolate identified by his partner. However, the crime scene manager admitted the tea bags were not recorded in his original statement — despite earlier testimony that all contents had been documented. He also confirmed he never asked the witness how she knew the items belonged to Christian.
Attorney Michael Archibald pressed the matter further, with the sergeant acknowledging he could not recall what the tea bags looked like. Neither item had been tested for DNA, and the sergeant admitted he did not know where the items are now.
A juror also raised a notable gap in the investigation, pointing out that car keys found in the ignition of Christian's abandoned truck were never examined for fingerprints.
Harrigan, Thomas and Bully are accused of abducting Christian from his McKinnons home on July 10, 2020. He was later found shot dead in Thibou's. The trial is set to resume on Tuesday.
