Montreal police say a man they believe committed 13 home invasions in the Montreal area, including one in which a man was killed, has been arrested in the Caribbean after a nine-year investigation.
Authorities in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, arrested 52-year-old Septimus Neverson Feb. 25 in connection with the crimes. He will be extradited and tried in Montreal.
Neverson is facing 54 charges, including one for murder, three for attempted murder and one for having taken a hostage. He is also charged with kidnapping and robbery.
The crimes were committed in Montreal and Laval – 10 home invasions took place in Montreal, six in 2006 and four in 2009, and three in Laval in 2006.
It was during one of those home invasions in Laval that 62-year-old painter Jacques Senecal was shot twice. He later died in hospital.
Police were able to close the books on the crimes that left 14 victims in Laval and 25 in Montreal in their wake, describing how some installed alarm systems and bars on their windows following the attacks.
Neverson entered Canada as a visitor in 1985 but after connecting him to a first home invasion, he was deported about 15 years ago.
Police believe he re-entered Canada using a fake identity.
“He was thrown out of the country in 2000 and obviously we were able to establish movement in and out of our county one thing is for sure he was here during the home invasions in 2006 and 2009,” said Cmdr. Patrice Carrier with the Montreal police’s major crimes unit.
Police said it was the 625th tip received in November 2013 that allowed the investigation to end with the man’s arrest.
Police did not divulge what that tip entailed but did say the information would come out once the case goes to trial.
