U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Denise N. George announced today that 22-year Avondale A. George, Jr. was sentenced to 35 years 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, St. Croix.
Avondale George was sentenced by V.I. Superior Court Judge, Hon. Harold Willocks. Judge Willocks sentenced George to 2nd-degree murder count II- 35 years, 1st-degree robbery count III- 15 years, 1st-degree assault count IV-10 years, and unauthorized use of a vehicle count V- 5 years. Judge Willocks directed that the prison sentence be served concurrently.
DOJ Assistant Attorneys General Eric Chancellor and his co-counsel Amie Simpson prosecuted this case on behalf of the People.
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 2nd -degree murder, 1st-degree assault, 1st-degree robbery, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
George and Cole aided and abetted each other in the perpetration of the robbery, taking Bannis’s vehicle against his will and brutally beating him in the process.
On that fateful day, he left his home in Estate Upper Love and headed to the park. According to an affidavit, an officer stated that he arrived on the scene and found Bannis laying on the groundface up with what appeared to be blood pooled in the collar of his shirt. EMTs transported Bannis to the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital where he was listed as unconscious but in stable condition. George and Cole struck Bannis in the head and repeatedly kicked him about the body, causing blunt head injury and his subsequent death on October 19, 2015. He remained in a comatose state and two months later, on Oct. 19, he succumbed to his wounds at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. He died as a result of “delayed complications of blunt head injury.” George and Cole were arrested in November of 2015. Cole is scheduled is to be sentenced at a later date. Two other accomplices have not been tried in court. At the sentencing, due to COVID-19 the victims did not present Victim Impact Statements. However, AAG Chancellor read portions of prepared statements from family members including Bannis’ wife and daughter.
“He was not only my husband but my other half, my best friend, my soul mate, my one and only true love, my children’s father, my breadwinner and more. His life was centered on his family and he loved many, for he was a loving and caring man”, said Maria Bannis, wife of the victim. Jackie Zamore, Bannis’ daughter stated, “He was taken prematurely in the cruelest fashion; was beaten without any provocation and left for dead like an animal on the street.”
Bannis was a former pastor of the First Baptist Church in Salisbury, Dominica for 18 years before relocating to St. Croix for 10 years. He served as a Deacon at the Calvary Baptist Church on St. Croix where he taught Sunday School, bible school, mentored the young, and assisted the elderly.
PRESS RELEASE
February 12, 2021
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340)774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: Sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov