ST. THOMAS — The second suspect who is charged in an 11-year-old murder — which police allege saw a wife conspiring to kill her husband to be with her lover — made his initial court appearance Monday morning and Attorney General Claude Earl Walker recommended a bail of $1 million dollars, which was granted by the court, the V.I. Department of Justice announced this afternoon.
Jacques Cajuste, 55, stood before V.I. Superior Court Judge Denise Francois to be advised of his rights on one count each of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault and using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence in connection with the June 25, 2005, murder of Egbert Stuart. Based on the police affidavit in support of the arrest, Judge Francois found that there was probable cause to sustain the charges.
Officers executed a warrant for Cajuste’s arrest and on Friday, he was extradited to St. Thomas from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he had flown to a month after Egbert Stuart was killed. He was held without bail until his initial hearing.
Cajuste is scheduled to make his second court appearance on Nov. 3 for his arraignment hearing, at which he will formally answer to the charges.
Meanwhile, Vivian Stuart, 58, who is also being held on suspicion of murder over the death of her husband, Egbert Stuart, has asserted her innocence.
Vivian Stuart of Heritage Hill Condominiums appeared on Oct. 6 before V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay for her arraignment hearing at which she entered a not-guilty plea.
Vivian Stuart, who was arrested on Sept. 22 on a warrant signed by V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay, faces charges of first-degree murder, first-and-third-degree assault (both crimes of domestic violence) and possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence.
Based on the police affidavit in support of the arrest, V.I. Superior Court Judge Michael Dunston found that there was probable cause to move the case forward. Judge Dunston set Vivian Stuart’s bail at $100,000 and imposed a number of conditions, which include home confinement with electronic monitoring, if she is able to secure her release. She remains jailed unable to post bail.
Jury selection for Stuart’s trial is tentatively scheduled for Apr. 18, 2017. V.I. Superior Court Judge Denise Francois will preside over the trial.
The case was investigated by the Cold Case Unit of the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Tags: 55, 58, Egbert Stuart, Jacques Cajuste, Vivian Stuart
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