Saleim Harrigan sentenced to life in prison

By Latrishka Thomas

He stood unmoved as Justice Rajiv Persaud delivered the words that will define the rest of his life.

Saleim Harrigan, convicted of the cold-blooded murder of senior Customs officer Nigel Christian, has been sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 40 years before he is eligible for review. He showed no visible reaction as the sentence was handed down.

It is the end of a case that gripped Antigua and Barbuda for nearly six years; one that began on the afternoon of July 10, 2020, when Christian was dragged from his McKinnons home by three men while his mother watched in horror. His body was found later that same day on a dirt road in Thibou’s. He had been shot dead.

Harrigan, 35, was found guilty in April following a trial that drew on FBI forensic and cellular mapping evidence, surveillance footage, and disputes over police integrity. His two co-accused, Wayne Thomas and Lasean Bully, were acquitted.

In determining the sentence, Justice Persaud found that the murder satisfied four of the criteria required for a life sentence under sentencing guidelines — substantial premeditation and planning, the abduction of the victim, the murder of a law enforcement official, and evidence the killing was carried out for payment or gain.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had sought life with a minimum term of 50 years. Defence counsel Wendell Alexander opposed that position, but the court found that no determinate sentence would be appropriate.

There were no mitigating factors relating to the offence. Though Harrigan expressed that he found what was done to be horrible, Justice Persaud made clear he did not consider that remorse but sympathy.

His time on remand since April 13, 2021 will be deducted from his minimum term. Should his release be deemed inappropriate at the end of that period, he will face review every 5 years.

Justice Persaud further ordered that Harrigan participate in all rehabilitation and counselling programmes and directed that he be evaluated within 30 days to assess what measures could be taken to reduce his risk of dangerousness.

For Nigel Christian’s family, after 6 years of waiting, justice has finally been served.