The Hospital Ground man charged with the shooting death of 18-year-old Jason Carroll two weeks ago in downtown Charlotte Amalie has pleaded not guilty to murder and gun charges.
As expected, Deshaune Harrigan, 24, entered the plea and requested a jury trial. In the short proceeding Thursday at Territorial Court, defense attorney Michael Joseph requested the case be heard by a St. Croix judge given the close ties between judges on St. Thomas and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The victim is the son of First Assistant U.S. Attorney James Carroll.
Judge Ishmael Meyers said the case will likely be assigned to Judge-designate Audrey Thomas-Francis, though she still must be confirmed by the full Senate. Thomas-Francis may recuse herself from the case because she worked at the U.S. Attorney's Office as an assistant U.S. attorney.
Meyers set July 7 as the date for discovery and presentation of evidence and July 21 as the deadline for filing motions in the case. Harrigan remains jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail.
Meyers declined to hear motions by Joseph to reduce bail and by prosecutors to increase bail for Harrigan, who was arrested the day after the downtown shooting.
In other court action, the two suspects charged in the 1999 death of Ferlyn Harris in Carnival Village have entered not guilty pleas. Khali Ubiles and Alvin Harris appeared briefly before Meyers to enter a plea and request a jury trial.
The murder case has also been assigned to Thomas-Francis. It was learned in Thursday's arraignment that an arrest warrant has been issued for a third suspect in Harris' death, Abijah Brown. He has been identified as the triggerman in the shooting. Ubiles and Harris were arrested last month after a year-long investigation.
