Murder suspect waives speedy trial right

LIMA — Gervens Justilien, a Haitian national charged in the March 10 rape and murder of fellow Haitian Chrislande Auguste, will stand trial in January 2025, a judge decided Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

With the assistance of a Haitian-Creole interpreter, Justilien waived his right to a speedy trial to allow attorneys from the Allen County Public Defenders Office additional time to prepare his case.

Justilien, 32, pleaded not guilty on June 13 to charges of aggravated murder, murder, rape and strangulation. The charges are the result of an incident that occurred March 10 when Auguste, a female also of Haitian descent, was found dead on a bed at a Makley Drive residence. Her death was attributed to strangulation and blunt force injuries.

Justilien, the principal suspect in Auguste’s death, fled the area and was captured in Rhode Island. He was brought back to Lima by Allen County Sheriff’s Office deputies May 31 from Providence, Rhode Island.

Investigators said Auguste had traveled from Haiti to the United States in October 2022 and had been granted a temporary employment authorization card while awaiting an asylum hearing.

Other Haitians were reportedly living at the residence at the time of the incident. A spokesman for the sheriff’s office said at the time that authorities believed everyone living at the Makley Drive residence was in the United States legally.

Asked during Monday’s hearing if he understood what was taking place, Justilien through his interpretor said he had spoken with his attorneys, Steve Chamberlain and Megan McLean, last week and agreed to waive his speedy trial rights “to give my attorneys more time to prepare. My attorneys say that is best for my case.”

Judge Jeffrey Reed canceled the previously scheduled trial date of Aug. 27 and set a new date for Jan. 14, 2025.