Forensic Work Questioned as Nigel Christian Murder Trial Continues

Testimony from a police forensic officer came under intense scrutiny Thursday as defence attorneys highlighted gaps in the investigation into the 2020 killing of senior Customs official Nigel Christian.

The officer, who was attached to the Forensic Evidence Recovery Unit at the time, was questioned during the ongoing trial of Saleim Harrigan, Wayne Thomas and Lasean Bully. The three men are accused of abducting Christian from his McKinnons home on July 10, 2020, before he was fatally shot later that day on a dirt road in Thibou’s.

During cross-examination, the witness acknowledged that the crime scene was processed at night using vehicle headlights and flashlights and confirmed that investigators did not return the following day to conduct a more detailed examination in daylight.

Defence lawyers also raised questions about potential evidence that was not analysed or collected. The officer told the court he had never seen photographs showing tyre tracks or a soda can at the scene and confirmed that neither tyre impressions nor shoe prints were examined.

Attention then shifted to Christian’s pickup truck, which prosecutors allege was used to transport him from his home to the location where his body was discovered. The vehicle underwent three separate forensic examinations in July 2020, but the officer confirmed it had been left in an open area between two of those inspections without being secured.

He further acknowledged that leaving the vehicle’s keys in a location accessible to others would compromise the integrity of the investigation.

Additional questioning revealed that several potential leads were not pursued, including documents found at Cassada Gardens and a vehicle connected to a driver linked to the case. The officer also confirmed that investigators did not examine a casino area where the accused are alleged to have changed clothing.

Inside Christian’s truck, a digital video recorder was recovered and handed to investigators, but the officer said he could not recall whether it was ever sent to the FBI for analysis. No gunshot residue testing was conducted inside the vehicle, and a can of Lysol found in the truck was not examined for fingerprints.

The court previously heard that several items recovered during the investigation — including a black hoodie, gloves and a hat — were later submitted as exhibits. The officer also confirmed that he transported several pieces of evidence to the FBI for forensic testing in March 2021.

Cross-examination of the witness is expected to continue when the trial resumes Friday.

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