Grenada - Jessica Colker, 39, Atlanta woman murdered, 24 Jan 2016

A man being quizzed over the brutal rape and murder of an American tourist in Grenada had only been released from prison a month ago after being jailed for child rape


This is such an awful incident. It appears that Jessica and her husband were taking a walk on a beach near their hotel. The beach was quiet but there were other holiday makers on it, including families with children. The couple were attacked with a sword on the beach and husband ran to get help. By the time help arrived, Jessica had been dragged away, raped and killed.

It sounds absolutely barbaric. RIP Jessica.
 
I know Jess..knew Jess.
This is sad and shocking. I hate to think of what her last few moments were like.
 
I know Jess..knew Jess.
This is sad and shocking. I hate to think of what her last few moments were like.

I did too. We went to intermediate and high school together. We were both in the school band for a few years before I quit. She played the trumpet. I couldn't believe it when I saw the news reports.
 
I know Jess..knew Jess.
This is sad and shocking. I hate to think of what her last few moments were like.

I did too. We went to intermediate and high school together. We were both in the school band for a few years before I quit. She played the trumpet. I couldn't believe it when I saw the news reports.

I'm sorry for both of you. It's sad that these jerks are let loose to do whatever they want.
 
This story as its been reported seems odd. I'm curious what circumstances would cause me to leave my wife behind with a man wielding a sword.


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http://cnews.canoe.com/CNEWS/World/2016/01/27/22597662.html

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada -- A man accused of killing a tourist from Georgia in a machete attack on an isolated beach in Grenada made his first appearance Wednesday before a judge on the Caribbean island to face a charge of capital murder.

Dave Martin Benjamin did not enter a plea and was not given an opportunity to speak in the brief hearing. A lawyer has not yet been appointed to represent him. The 27-year-old could get the death penalty if convicted. Grenada has not carried out an execution since 1978.
 
This story as its been reported seems odd. I'm curious what circumstances would cause me to leave my wife behind with a man wielding a sword.


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That was my first thought too (NOT blaming husband, just curious). I read somewhere (will have to track down a link) that she was being held for ransom and he ran back to the hotel to get cash. When he returned, they were gone. That seems like the only plausible explanation. I really can't imagine my husband leaving me though, but it's hard to say until you're in that situation.
 
Found it:

"Sir Winston said he was unable to divulge why Colker was left alone with the alleged killer while her husband ran over half a mile to get help.
But a police source said it was likely Colker was held hostage while her husband was ordered to return to the hotel to get money.
During the time he was away Colker was raped and killed. Her body was found an hour after the alarm was raised. Meloti did not suffer any injury."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...and-NOT-face-death-penalty.html#ixzz3yUY4h3zv
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Absolutely horrific and in the prime of her life... Hopefully, they'll put away the perp for good this time?
 
Found it:

"Sir Winston said he was unable to divulge why Colker was left alone with the alleged killer while her husband ran over half a mile to get help.
But a police source said it was likely Colker was held hostage while her husband was ordered to return to the hotel to get money.
During the time he was away Colker was raped and killed. Her body was found an hour after the alarm was raised. Meloti did not suffer any injury."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...and-NOT-face-death-penalty.html#ixzz3yUY4h3zv
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Thank you for finding and posting this Brownrice.
This scenario explains why the husband left. I knew there had to be a good explanation. He must be absolutely devistated.
This was such a horrible crime. I am outraged when something like this happens to a stranger. This happening to someone I knew haunts my mind. I have been trying not to dwell on the details because it is so awful but my mind keeps going back to wondering what she went through.
 
Found it:

"Sir Winston said he was unable to divulge why Colker was left alone with the alleged killer while her husband ran over half a mile to get help.
But a police source said it was likely Colker was held hostage while her husband was ordered to return to the hotel to get money.
During the time he was away Colker was raped and killed. Her body was found an hour after the alarm was raised. Meloti did not suffer any injury."

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Thanks for this, BrownRice. The husband has been getting lambasted for leaving her and I had a hard time believing he would just leave her there without a good reason. It makes sense now. That poor man will have to live with this awful, horrendous thing for the rest of his life and I feel so bad for him. They had only been married 14 months. I keep thinking of how I remember her from middle and high school: smart, quirky, kind and carrying her trumpet case through the halls.
 
Found it:

"Sir Winston said he was unable to divulge why Colker was left alone with the alleged killer while her husband ran over half a mile to get help.
But a police source said it was likely Colker was held hostage while her husband was ordered to return to the hotel to get money.
During the time he was away Colker was raped and killed. Her body was found an hour after the alarm was raised. Meloti did not suffer any injury."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...and-NOT-face-death-penalty.html#ixzz3yUY4h3zv
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I'm so glad you posted this bit. When I initially read this story, this information wasn't known yet. The comments section was filled with brutal comments directed towards the husband for so-called "abandonment" of his wife. My heart absolutely broke for him because I knew it was going to be something like this - that he was forced in some way to leave.
 
I'm so glad you posted this bit. When I initially read this story, this information wasn't known yet. The comments section was filled with brutal comments directed towards the husband for so-called "abandonment" of his wife. My heart absolutely broke for him because I knew it was going to be something like this - that he was forced in some way to leave.

I kept going down that rabbit hole and reading the comments, and I shouldn't have, because people can be so cruel and judgmental. My heart broke for him as well. Those armchair warriors weren't there and they have no idea what really happened.
 
Husband's actions are more plausible with the ransom angle. I hate that I've become so skeptical, but I hope that all possible motives are still fully explored.



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I was rereading this thread today and realized it hadn't been updated in a long time...


• I didn't see this article posted in the thread already; it had some details I don't remember reading: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/02/04/benjamin-charged-brutal-murder/#gsc.tab=0


• Jessica's body was released to her husband in February 2016: http://www.ajc.com/news/local/body-...nada-released-husband/rluvhU30nJCCoOPvpU8N9J/


• A "key witness" was found that month, as well: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/02/22/key-witnesses-jessica-colker-murder/#gsc.tab=0

[T]he Police have landed a major witness to give evidence for the State in the ongoing Preliminary Inquiry into the killing.
A source who did not want to be identified described the person who is co-operating as a male individual who was in the company of the accused on the night of the incident.

He said the individual had made a formal statement to the police, which they regard as key for the Preliminary.


• This article from June indicates that there were roughly 22 witnesses that were meant to be called for the Preliminary Hearing (13 had testified at the time this article was written), and one of the State's witnesses was declared hostile due to a change in his testimony: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/06/09/hostile-witness-dave-benjamin-murder-inquiry/#gsc.tab=0

THE NEW TODAY understands that Francis wrote a statement to the Prosecutor that he saw someone running from the area in which the murder took place and could have identified the individual.

However, when he appeared on the Witness Stand in the PI, he could not say whether he knew the person or not.


• In July, an article was posted that summarized three more witness testimonies: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/07/14/dave-benjamin-murder-proceedings/#gsc.tab=0

The first to take the stand at Monday’s court sitting before Magistrate Karen Noel was Richard John, a resident of Coals Gap in St. David’s, a fellow villager of the accused.

THE NEW TODAY
understands that John’s name was used as an alibi by the suspect when he was apprehended by the police in January.

District Medical Officer for the Parish of St. David, Dr. John Layne was also called to give evidence as he was the medical personnel who was called to the scene after Colker’s body was discovered.

The last witness called to the stand to give evidence was Officer attached to the Criminal Records Office (CRO) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), Detective Sergeant Dominic Daniel who gave a detailed explanation of records taken as a result of the murder.


• The Preliminary Inquiry was still going on in October 2016, when one of the State's key witnesses (who was going to testify about what Benjamin told him the night of the murder) went into hiding: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/10/04/key-witness-in-murder-case-gone-into-hiding/#gsc.tab=0

State Prosecutors will have anxious looks on their faces today (Friday) to see if one of their key witnesses will show up to give evidence in the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of U.S national, Jessica Colker.

Well-placed sources told THE NEW TODAY newspaper that the Prosecution Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) is in search of Jason Peters known by many as “Pussy Man” to give evidence before the Presiding Magistrate at the St. David’s Magistrate’s Court.

Peters had given a statement to the police within days of the murder, which linked the accused, Dave Benjamin to the January 24th murder of Colker on an isolated beach at La Sagesse.

The witness has failed on two occasions to appear before Magistrate Karen Noel after giving an earlier undertaking to co-operate with the lawmen.


• In November 2016, the Preliminary Inquiry concluded and the sitting Magistrate decided the case should go to trial: http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2016/11/21/case-against-dave-benjamin-heads-to-trial/#gsc.tab=0

According to [State Prosecutor] Pinnock, the high court proceedings will follow the same procedure as that of the Preliminary Inquiry with the exception that the accused would be given a chance to tell his side of the story.

The State is hopeful that the trial at the high court level could take place during the early months of 2017.

And if you were wondering, like I was, why the PI took so long, here's a quote from that article: “[The Inquiry] could have been a little shorter but as you know the St. David’s Court only have sittings on Mondays and Fridays."


I can't find any info about the trial starting; I'm not sure if it hasn't started yet or if it just hasn't been covered, but I'd guess the former.
 
Benjamin unexpectedly pleaded guilty to non-capital murder in court in November, and is scheduled to appear in court again for sentencing on January 17, 2018. The maximum sentence for non-capital murder is life in prison.

Guilty plea for non capital murder: https://www.facebook.com/gbntelevisionnews/videos/10159664454830464/ <-- This is a link to a video posted by a Grenadian news channel on Facebook.

Murder accused Dave Benjamin will not go to trial:
http://www.nowgrenada.com/2017/11/murder-accused-dave-benjamin-will-not-go-to-trial/

Benjamin pleads guilty:
http://thenewtoday.gd/local-news/2017/11/20/benjamin-pleads-guilty/#gsc.tab=0
 

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