Violence against persons in a position of public authority
A case dating back two years has been heard at Marigot Magistrates’ Court; it involved three individuals who fired shots at several police officers.
The incident took place on 13 July 2024 when a gendarmerie patrol spotted three men who appeared to be tampering with a piece of construction machinery near the Géminga shipyard between Marigot and Sandy Ground. Seeing the police approaching, the men quickly fled; the gendarmes then got out of their vehicle and, whilst assessing the attempted break-in, found a mobile phone abandoned at the scene, no doubt left behind by one of the three fugitives.
As they continued their investigations, five gunshots rang out, and there was no doubt that they were the ones being targeted. Without further ado, they took cover and called for reinforcements, who soon arrived to join them. Moments later, a second volley of around ten shots was fired by a man not far away (he was so close that the gendarmes could see the muzzle flashes from his gun). The man eventually fled the scene, with no injuries reported.
A repeat offender making matters worse
An eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, stated that he had recognised the thugs and their ringleader, naming the latter specifically. CCTV footage from the area will also provide evidence for the subsequent investigation, which will trace the man named by the witness. It transpired that the mobile phone found at the scene belonged to him, and upon analysis, videos showed him with his face clearly visible handling military-grade weapons, including a Kalashnikov; the evidence is therefore conclusive.
The man in question is no stranger to the police; on the contrary, he had previously served a custodial sentence whilst still a minor, and had most recently been imprisoned for his involvement in a murder case on the Dutch side of the border. Released on 26 August, he did not, however, see fit to respond to the summons sent to him to appear in court last Thursday. The verdict will be handed down shortly, but there is no doubt that the sentence will be severe; the Public Prosecutor did not mince her words during her closing speech against the offender in question.
