Government of Virgin Islands v. Dyches

OPINION OF THE COURT

SEITZ, Chief Judge

The appellant in this case was the defendant (“defendant”) in a trial before the district court, sitting without a jury. He was convicted of murder in the first degree and assault in the first degree. Defendant’s only substantial claim on appeal is that the district court erred in admitting into evidence a hearsay statement attributed to one of the victims of the crimes. The victim had died prior to trial and the statement was introduced through testimony of a witness to whom the statement had been made.

The incident that gave rise to the criminal charges…