Sint Maarten Court

10 years’ imprisonment for sexual abuse of a minor

The man, a former acting governor of Pointe Blanche Prison, appeared in court last week charged with sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. The offences took place over several years, continuing until the victim reached the age of majority. Having been held in custody since his arrest on 2 February, he was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment without parole. He must also pay his victim compensation of 50,000 florins, plus statutory interest. 

12 years’ imprisonment for the three men involved in the Gentlemen’s Club shooting

The Sint Maarten Court of Appeal has sentenced the three men involved in the April 2025 shooting outside the Gentlemen’s Club to 12 years’ imprisonment each for murder committed in a group and the unlawful possession of a firearm.
At first instance, two of the defendants had been found guilty of attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, and each sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. The third defendant had been acquitted of the charge of attempted murder, but found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. The court had previously ruled that it was not possible to determine who had fired the fatal shot, nor to establish that the defendants had acted in concert to cause the victim’s death. On appeal, the Court ultimately found all three men guilty of murder committed in concert. In determining their sentences, the court took into account their young age and the fact that they had no previous convictions for similar offences. The length of their pre-trial detention will be deducted from their respective sentences.