Tahira Charles Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charges

ST. THOMAS — Tahira Charles has pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges the V.I. Department of Justice announced today.

The 32-year-old Bovoni man appeared before V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston on Thursday morning for his arraignment hearing to formally answer to the five charges he faces in connection with the June 25 killing of another young man, Caseam Daniel, who was fatally shot in the area of First Stop Gas station.

Judge Dunston accepted the not-guilty plea and has set May 8 as the date for jury selection. V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay will be presiding over the trial.

Mr. Charles is charged with one count each of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and first-degree reckless endangerment.

According to an affidavit prepared by Det. Nigel James, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of the gas station where they found Mr. Daniel’s bullet-riddled body.

Footage from a surveillance camera showed a black BMW convertible bearing tag number TEF 376 arrive at the gas station with three occupants. The driver, Devon Grant, exited the vehicle and went into the gas station’s convenience store. Mr. Charles, the front seat passenger, also came out of the vehicle; the third occupant stayed inside the vehicle, James wrote.

Mr. Charles walked across the street to the area of Oswald Harris Court, where there was a group of individuals, including Mr. Daniel. Mr. Charles appeared to get into an argument with Mr. Daniel, took a gun from his pants, shot Mr. Daniel three times and then fled the area, according to James’ affidavit. Based on the accounts of several witnesses and information from a confidential source, police determined that there was probable cause to arrest Mr. Charles for Mr. Daniel’s murder, James wrote in his affidavit.