Ambulance personnel rushing the victim in the fatal shooting at Milton Drive in Dutch Quarter into St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment on October 29, 2018.
PHILIPSBURG–The Prosecutor’s Office called for a prison sentence of eighteen years against suspect C.C.M. (31), who is suspected of having shot to death the sister of his former girlfriend at Milton Drive in Dutch Quarter on October 29, 2018.
The Prosecutor said Wednesday that things had gone “terribly wrong” in the incident in which the 37-year-old mother of seven children was shot through the head. Also, the suspect had fired gunshots at the deceased’s mother and at one of her friends.
According to the Prosecutor, this case started with a fight between the suspect and his girlfriend at the time, during which he had threatened her with a pair of scissors and had dealt her a blow to the head, witnessed by the woman’s eight-year-old daughter.
The woman wanted to leave the house, but M. prevented that. She messaged her mother, and her sister went to the house in the company of two friends. Their mother arrived a little later.
The daughter was allowed to leave the house, but the woman was not. “This is my woman,” the defendant told his visitors before locking the door. “I just want my sister,” the victim said in trying to mediate.
Things took an ugly turn immediately thereafter when the suspect saw that the victim had brought two men with her. “You bring these two men for me?” he asked, after which he pulled a revolver from his back pocket and shot the victim through the head.
He also fired gunshot at the victim’s mother and in the direction of the two men, who were able to duck to safety. The victim was not so lucky. She fell down with a bullet through her head and died at the hospital later.
The suspect turned himself in to the police in Philipsburg after 10:00pm that same night and was arrested on the spot. He also turned over to police the weapon used in the shooting, which was immediately confiscated.
Based on witness statements, forensic investigations and expert reports, the Prosecutor found manslaughter and possession of a firearm proven. According to the pathologist, the victim was shot from a very close range – approximately 10-20 centimetres.
The Prosecutor also found attempted manslaughter proven where it concerned the shots fired in the direction of the victim’s mother and at one of the friends.
“He aimed at my head,” the mother had told police investigators, whereas one of the men had stated that M. had shot in his direction.
According to the Prosecutor, it apparently was M.’s intention to make more victims, but in the case of the other man the prosecution only found threats proven. The Prosecutor also found the mistreatment of M.’s former girlfriend proven.
Attorney-at-law Marlon Hart pleaded self-defence, as his client claimed the victim had attacked him with a Taser gun, but the Prosecutor said no Taser had been seen or found at the crime scene. Besides, experts said, it would have been impossible for a person to fire a gunshot after being Tasered.
According to the Prosecutor, it was also impossible that the suspect felt threatened by the two men’s presence, because they were leaning against a vehicle, watching the incident from a distance.
The Prosecution held it against the defendant that he showed little remorse and respect towards the victim’s family, who had provided him shelter after Hurricane Irma.
“The client appeared regretful. However, during the interview it was clear that he was more regretful that he was in such a frustrating situation rather than the death of the victim,” the investigating psychiatrist had stated. However, the defendant was considered fully accountable.
That the defendant does not shy away from violence also becomes apparent from his criminal record. He was convicted of threatening his former girlfriend in November 2016, and of the mistreatment of his then-girlfriend and her daughter in June 2018. For these crimes M. had been sentenced to three months suspended with 180 hours community service. Two months later, he mistreated the same woman, which was reason for the Prosecutor to call for the execution of the suspended sentence.
On behalf of the victim’s mother, attorney-at-law Geert Hatzmann filed for material and immaterial damages to the maximum amount of NAf. 50,000.
The Court will give its decisions March 6.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/85199-prosecutor-calls-for-18-years-against-man-who-gunned-down-mother-of-7-children
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