HMS Challenger arrived in Port Louis in mid-January 1834 and Lieutenant Smith was appointed Governor.  He immediately set about the capture of the eight murderers.  Five were caught in early March 1834, four of which were sent to England for trial.  But the murders had been committed before the Islands had an established government and system of law, and thus could not be tried.  They were eventually sent back to Montevideo as free men.  Smith then concentrated on re-establishing the settlement of Port Louis, which had by now lost all its gardens and domesticated animals.