71-year old American yachtie Kathy Brandel was raped and then killed by one of her Grenadian abductors who along with two others high-jacked their Catamaran boat, ‘Simplicity’ to flee to St Vincent after they escaped from the South St George Police Station on February 19.
Paradise, St Andrew residents Ron Mitchell, Abita Stanislaus, and Trevon Robertson made their first appearance in court Thursday since returning home on Monday night after they were captured on the neighbouring island of St Vincent just over a week ago.
The information about the rape of the American woman was gleaned from a string of charges slapped on the suspects when they appeared at the St George’s No.1 Magistrate Court in front of Acting Chief Magistrate Francine Foster.
The charge of Rape of Brandel was slapped on Abita Stanislaus who also had multiple rape charges for other offences committed in recent weeks.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson attended the 40-minute hearing on behalf of the State while U.S-trained attorney-at-law Jerry Edwin appeared for the three accused men.
The Chief Magistrate read out a sleuth of charges against the accused related to criminal offences surrounding the Americans including murder, kidnapping, taking them out of the Grenada jurisdiction against their will, housebreaking, as well as robbery with violence against the couple.
All three were charged for Capital Murder in connection with the alleged deaths of Brandel and her male companion 66-year old Ralph Hendry.
Before reading the murder and kidnapping charges to the accused, the Magistrate informed them of several Summary charges that were laid against them by the police prior to escaping custody and fleeing to St Vincent.
After brief consultation with Attorney Edwin, the Paradise men agreed to plead guilty to the offences of Causing Harm, Indecent Assault, and Stealing from an individual items such as an I-Phone, and its accessories, as well as cash.
The Acting Chief Magistrate also read several other indictable offences to the three St Andrew’s men which led to their initial arrest by police officers and holding them at the South St George Police station from where they escaped and made their way to St Vincent.
Some of the charges related to Robbery with Violence in the Grand Anse area in the South of the island.
The suspect Ron Mitchell had two charges of attempted rape slapped on him for separate incidents occurring on December 23, 2023 and then on February 9, 2024.
Mitchell was also charged separately for an offense allegedly committed on January 1, 2024 at Grand Anse in which he stole a Laptop, I-Phone, and in the process causing harm to the victim.
All three were also charged by the Police with stealing from a male foreigner on February 9, 2024 and causing harm to him.
During the court hearing, DPP Nelson hinted that the State wanted to get a quick trial of the accused men for the incident which attracted international attention especially among the major News Network in the United States.
The Acting Chief Magistrate set aside July 1 as the date for the start of the Preliminary Inquiry into the several charges against the locals and ordered them to return to court on March 27 for the matter for “Mention” only for them to be continued to be held officially on Remand at the Richmond Hill prison.
DPP Nelson told the court that the time allotted by Magistrate Foster will give State Prosecutors the time needed to address a number of “house-keeping” matters such as making arrangements for relevant persons in St Vincent to be brought into the country to give evidence against the suspects.
Mitchell, Stanislaus, and Robertson reportedly “confessed” to police investigators in St Vincent that they had killed the Americans and threw their bodies into the sea during their escape from Grenada.