Crime

One of Two Suspects Sentenced to 35 Years For Brutal Murder of 73-Year-Old Church Deacon Who Died After Being Carjacked and Beaten in 2015

ST. CROIX -- The V.I. Department of Justice has announced that 22-year Avondale A. George, Jr. was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his conviction of murder, assault, and robbery charges for the brutal 2015 murder of 73-year-old Augustus Bannis in the vicinity of David Hamilton Jackson Park on St. Croix. Avondale George was sentenced by V.I. Superior Court Judge Harold Willocks. D.O.J. Assistant Attorneys General Eric Chancellor and his co-counsel Amie Simpson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The Consortium covered this story extensively over the years, including an event held by Mr. Bannis's church, where he served as a deacon before he was killed, that called on the suspects at the time to turn themselves in, and those with knowledge of the crime to share information. According to the Dept. of Justice, on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, a jury returned the verdict after deliberating for 45 minutes finding both George and co-defendant, Enock Justin Cole guilty of...