Almost five years after the lifeless body of 15-year-old Shante Claxton was discovered and her alleged killer, Reese Walters has been convicted of the murder.
At the high court in Nevis on Friday, a jury handed down the unanimous guilty verdict for the now 26-year-old Cotton Ground resident.
Walters was represented at trial by Marsha Henderson, Saundra Hector, and Britney Jeffers, while Director of Public Prosecutions Valston Graham assisted by Crown Counsel Teshaun Vasquez and Lanein Blanchette, forwarded the Crown’s case.
The prosecution called thirteen witnesses to the stand, including the victim’s mother and grandfather who found her body, a DNA expert, several police officers and two medical doctors. The crown also entered blood and skin DNA evidence to help seal Walters’ fate.
Walters was just 21 when he was charged with Claxton’s murder. In September 2014 the third form high school student went missing one Saturday after leaving her home in Jessups Village headed for church. Her body was found in the bathroom of the St. Thomas’ Primary School later that day.
Walters was arrested two days later and according to police admitted that he had met with Claxton with the intention of having a sexual encounter. A post mortem on the deceased determined death was due to strangulation.
A date for Walters’ sentencing has not been yet been fixed as the judge has ordered a social inquiry report.