Charlestown, Nevis, April 17, 2018 – It’s nearly four years since the body of 14-year-old teenager, Shantae Claxton, was found in the bathroom of the St. Thomas Primary School….brutally murdered by Reese Walters.
“Four years later her alleged killer is remanded at our prison which we call 1840. Under our law he is innocent until proven guilty but he is alive,” said Washington-based Nevisian Everton “Obi” Elliott, who noted that since the death of Claxton and the arrest of Walters “Timothy Harris (has) become Prime Minister and Mark Brantley become Premier.
“Shantae was not so fortunate. Shantae is dead. Why does it take 4 years to bring a case to trial? Shantae would have been 18 this year. I feel for her family. When will they get closure? Does this means they have no evidence to bring him to trial?” asked Elliott.
According to media reports, Reese Walters of Cotton Ground, Nevis was charged with the death of Claxton of Jessups Village.
21-year-old Walters was placed in police custody on September 8, and was charged with murder and attempt to commit carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16.
Claxton’s death gripped the twin-island federation when her body was found in the bathroom of the St. Thomas’ Primary School on Saturday (Sept 6).
Claxton had left her family home that morning headed to church. When she didn’t attend service nor return home, police and relatives set out in search.
A post mortem conducted on Sept 13 concluded that her death was due to strangulation.
The charge of attempt of a sexual act indicates Claxton was not raped.
Her funeral was held on Sept 18.
According to the St. Kitts/Nevis Observer, police confirmed that Walters made some form of confession, but nothing was offered in terms of motive.
Informed sources however suggest the young man claimed Claxton’s death was an accident.
“Mr. Walters admits to meeting the deceased with the intention of having a sexual encounter; he made no further comments once officially charged,” The Observer states as coming from a police press release.
Claxton attended the Charlestown Secondary School and was preparing to enter 4A1 in September 2014.
With Walters’ incarceration, he joined two of his siblings already serving lengthy sentences.
In June 2014, his brothers, Miles Walters and Deon Walters, were sentenced to serve 10 years and 9 years respectively.
Miles was sentenced to five years each for gun possession and ammunition possession on June 10. Deon Walters received six years for gun possession and three years for possession of ammunition on June 24. Sentences are to run concurrently.