Sergeant Lenroy Samuels’ received bail on Monday (November 8) in the Magistrate’s Court where he was granted bail after pleading not guilty to the two charges.

The court was told that on November 25, 2020, police officers executed a search warrant on the residence of Cordell O’Neal, the main suspect in the murder of Everton McMaster.

When the officers left the apartment, it was noted the mobile phone belonging to Cordell was left at the apartment. The phone was a major piece of evidence in the investigation. The officers had to apply for another search warrant to be executed on the following day.

The court was informed that while Cordell was in lock-up on November 25, 2020, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera footage showed an off-duty Samuels entering the holding area of the accused and having a conversation with him. Shortly after leaving the cell, the police sergeant allegedly called Zubida O’Neal, the sister of Cordell. She then called her brother Cammy O’Neal, who went to Cordell’s house. Camera footage from Cordell’s residence showed Cammy entering the apartment and removing several items. When the officers eventually executed the search warrant, the phone was missing.

Samuels was arrested on the suspicion of breach of trust. It is alleged that he initially denied knowing Zubida or Cordell but after he was shown the video footage, he said he had called her to inform her that Cordell was in lock-up. The court heard that the police sergeant said he was doing community service and not trying to perverse the course of justice.

For the other matter relating to the illegal possession of explosives, the court was told on November 4 of this year, police officers executed a search warrant on Samuel’s house in Virgin Gorda in the presence of his wife. The police sergeant was in custody at the Road Town Police Station for an unrelated matter.

The court was informed the police found 11 rounds of live .45 calibre ammunition stuffed in a Timberland shoe in the closet. His wife denied knowledge of the ammunition and Samuels allegedly told police officers she did not have anything to do with them and he was the one who had possession and hid them.

Crown opposes bail

After the allegations were read, Crown Counsel Kellei-Gail Smith had made an application for the accused cop to be denied bail based on the nature of the allegations and the known associates of the police sergeant.

She also noted Samuels was a Dominican citizen whose wife worked with a chartered yacht company. The prosecutor said this may present him with the opportunity to leave the territory. However, Magistrate Khadeen Palmer denied the application.

The magistrate said the complaints were all bailable offences and others who have appeared in court for similar offences were granted bail. She eventual set bail at $70,000 with a $10,000 cash component.

Magistrate Palmer also instructed Samuels to surrender his travel documents and report to the Virgin Gorda Police Station every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 6 am and 12 pm.

He was also instructed not to interfere with the investigation which led to the complaint of breach of trust being brought against him.

The matter was adjourned until January 20, 2022. Samuels is being represented by defence attorney Stephen Daniels.