Five Cays DOUBLE MURDER suspect Charged by Royal TCI Police

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, February 6, 2023 – Some relief came for Turks and Caicos islanders over the weekend when a suspect was charged in connection to the brutal killing of the innocent, Stewart Harris and Tamia Simmons in a retaliatory double murder on September 4th last year.

Their hopes now lie with the Turks and Caicos Judiciary to put the accused away for his alleged crimes.  The news came in on Friday evening that 24-year-old Jumilla Isma, who has escaped murder charges before, had been arrested on Tuesday, January 31st and charged on Friday, Feb 3rd for the killings.

The vicious murders had shocked the Turks and Caicos populace and were condemned by Premier Washington Misick and others as the shedding of innocent blood.

It was said Tamia and Stewart had been enjoying their Sunday, at least one of the two sleeping peacefully when they were attacked by a gunman who shot and killed them.  The murder came only hours after two young men had been shot and killed in Five Cays as well, as the first in a series of events that would set off the worst crime spree the Turks and Caicos had ever seen.

That man who entered the home and shot the two to death is believed by Police to be Isma.

The arrest may mean that the TCI can put a face to one of the men who purportedly contributed to last year’s terror and robbed at least two unsuspecting individuals of their futures.  It’s up to the Director of Public Prosecution’s office to bring the case and make success of it.

Some are however, already questioning the strength of evidence gathered in the double homicide, while yet others are thanking the Royal TCI Police for the arrest which is already bringing a sense of closure.

Last year during the height of the murders, the UK had promised that any help needed in the realm of the courts would be offered to the Turks and Caicos should they request it.