Stop Sharing Graphic Photos, Deputy Premier Urges
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has called on residents to stop circulating graphic images of murder victims, warning the practice is insensitive to grieving families and may carry legal consequences. His remarks in the House of Assembly followed the widely-condemned circulation of images after the killing of businessman Kai de Castro.
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has urged residents to stop circulating graphic photographs of murder victims, telling lawmakers the practice is both disrespectful to families and potentially unlawful. Speaking in the House of Assembly, Fraser referenced the recent killing of prominent businessman Kai de Castro and said images purportedly showing the victim after his death were being shared in local social media and messaging groups. "There was a photograph being circulated of the victim," he told legislators. "I want people to know that it is a crime to circulate those photographs.
If you get them from your friends or whoever has them circulating, delete them. You can be sued." Images that began circulating after de Castro’s death sparked widespread concern and condemnation across the territory. Some residents questioned the authenticity of the pictures and suggested they may have been altered, while others said seeing the images compounded the pain of family and friends.
Fraser emphasised the human cost of sharing such material. "It’s denigrating. It’s not kind for the family, and it should stop," he said, urging the public to consider how dissemination can retraumatise relatives and hinder community healing. Beyond the emotional harm, sharing graphic images can also carry other consequences.
Fraser warned that distribution may lead to legal action or criminal charges, and noted the broader risks of compromising police inquiries and contaminating evidence when images circulate widely before authorities have concluded investigations. The Deputy Premier also used his remarks to appeal directly to young people. "We cannot afford to lose any more Kais, not in the fashion in which this took place.
I encourage young people to be vigilant, to know who your company is," he said, linking the call to stop sharing images with a wider plea for vigilance in the face of violent crime. De Castro’s killing prompted an outpouring of grief across the British Virgin Islands, particularly within the business community where he was known for providing employment and support to residents.
Fraser’s comments reflect growing public concern about both violent crime and the ways social media can amplify harm. Authorities and community leaders are urging residents to delete any graphic material, refrain from re-sharing, and report disturbing images to the relevant platforms and the police.
The message from the House of Assembly is clear: respect for victims and their families, and responsibility on social media, are matters of public interest and legal consequence.
Primary source: BVI News