Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

Witness in Purcell murder put in protection after PI makes contact

Witness in Purcell murder put in protection after PI makes contact

Royden Sebastian — the man accused in the murder of Purcell Estate resident, George Burrows — has been refused bail and a witness in his case placed in protective custody after the court learned of new, ‘concerning’ developments.

During the incident which took place on September 2, 2020, Sebastian, 38, allegedly killed the victim at his home sometime after 9 pm and also allegedly attempted to kill two of Burrows’ sons. One of the sons — the alleged original target — reportedly escaped while the gun jammed when it was later placed to the head of another son who is confined to a wheelchair.

During his High Court appearance before Justice Richard Floyd last month, prosecutors argued that Sebastian is “a danger to interfere with the course of justice, including witnesses and the investigation”.

They further argued that there was a significant safety risk owing to his criminal record and claimed that he has access to firearms. However, no evidence was put before the court to support the assertion, outside of his criminal record.

Sebastian, who has an extensive criminal record stretching from as far back as 2005, just recently completed a six-year prison term as part of a ten-year reduced sentence for armed robbery. Before that, he had also been convicted of keeping a firearm without a license, possession of explosives, being armed with an offensive weapon and unlawful wounding.

Eyewitness placed into Justice Protection Program


In their arguments against bail, prosecutors also referred to contact being made with their main witness by a private investigator hired on behalf of counsel for Sebastian.

They argued this caused concern and anxiety on the part of the witness, such that the witness has been placed into the Justice Protection Programme. Other witnesses who still reside in the victim’s home are reportedly still fearful of Sebastian.

On the other hand, the Defence argued that Sebastian is not a flight risk, has ties to the community and conditions can be imposed to deal with any concerns that may exist regarding potential interference with witnesses and the preservation of public order.

Violent record gave judge pause


Justice Floyd, while agreeing that Sebastian was not a likely flight risk, said the element of public safety was a significant cause for concern.

According to the Judge, Sebastian’s record was troubling.

“It is serious and substantial,” Judge Floyd said. “The entries for wounding, possession of a firearm and armed robbery, with the latter resulting in a lengthy sentence, give me pause.”

He said Sebastian’s record was not so old as to be irrelevant nor were the entries too few to be discounted.

The presence of at least one eye witness who identifies the accused, coupled with the significant and violent record of Sebastian, led the judge to conclude that there are very real concerns with him interfering with the administration of justice and committing further crimes if released.

“I am not satisfied that any suitable bail conditions could be crafted to prevent that. His record for violence and the possession and use of firearms cannot be discounted nor overcome. The risk is too great. The protection and safety of the public is paramount,” Justice Floyd stated.

Defence attorney David Penn represents Sebastian while Kellee-Gai Smith appeared for the Prosecution.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Hong Kong Industry Group Calls for HK$20 Billion Support Fund to Ease Property Market Stress
Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Speaking Fees Face Weak Demand amid Corporate Reluctance
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
×