Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson says that steps have already been started to have Vincentian Veron Primus sent back to New York to face a charge of murder in the second degree for allegedly killing an American 16-year-old, Chanel Petro-Nixon 10 years ago.
At a news conference in New York Wednesday, a grand jury decision was unsealed and it was revealed that Primus was charged with murder for the second time this year.
An extradition request will be submitted to the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where Primus has been detained since April 21 on unrelated murder and kidnapping cases.
Earlier in the year, Primus was charged with killing Shearlean Greaves at her business place at Arnos Vale last November and on Wednesday, he was charged with Petro Nixon’s death.
The District Attorney said it was important to get Primus back in the States to face justice and made an appeal to anyone with information to come forward, stating they must not be afraid.
Primus has long been suspected in her death, and then in 2012, in a separate case, Primus violated an order or protection, served three years in prison and was deported to St. Vincent. There, he again got into more trouble, allegedly kidnapping an ex-girlfriend and murdering another young lady.
“Some evidence came to our attention a few weeks ago, and we were finally able to put a case together where we could get an indictment,” Thompson said.
He’s been in jail in St. Vincent since April, which is when NYPD detectives got word about incriminating statements Primus made about Petro-Nixon’s murder.
“This indictment is a testament to the fact that neither time nor distance will stop our investigators and prosecutors from the pursuit of justice,” NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said. “I applaud the commitment and tenacity of all who worked on this case and thank our law enforcement partners overseas for their cooperation.”
International extradition is the formal process by which a person found in one country is surrendered to another country for trial or punishment. The process is regulated by treaty and conducted between the Federal Government of the United States and the government of a foreign country.
