Marigot:--- While relatives of murder victim Rigobert Bertin Maurice has denied that the young man was condemned by the justice system. French Prosecutor Jacques Louvier confirmed that the victim was condemned for an armed robbery with violence on September 10 2009. Louvier said the crime was committed on May 2 2009. Besides that Bertin Maurice had a suspended sentence of six months for an unrelated crime sometime ago.
The prosecutor said Bertin- Maurice did not appear in court for the last hearing and as such he was condemned in his absence. He further explained that a warrant was out for Bertin Maurice. Despite having a criminal record, the shooting has no relation to previous crimes.
Rollina Bertin-Maurice and other relatives said the young man did not have any police record and that he served his country for 18 months in the French Army. On SOS radio on Monday the older Bertin-Maurice condemned the newspapers especially The Daily Herald for the information they printed about the victim. Information which turned out to be accurate.
In an invited comment aunt of the deceased man Rosemurie Hodge said on Tuesday they were aware of some of the things her nephew did, and admitted that he was not perfect. She said most of the things her nephew was involved in, his father was not aware of them since he was no longer a minor Hodge said.
Furthermore, she felt that the French Prosecutor should not have released that kind of the information to media since it is not related to his cold blooded murder. Rosmurie Hodge said her family is now planning to meet with the prosecutor to share their true feelings.
While not excusing her nephew’s behaviour she said that her nephew Rigobert Bertin Maurice was not someone that was bad instead he followed the wrong friends whom they believed misled him. She made clear that her nephew did not kill anyone neither was he any killer. Asked why he did not return to the French Army Hodge said her nephew came back to St. Martin during the stike in Guadeloupe earlier this year. She said when he got back here he began working at the Raddison Resort before being employed by the Collectivity.
In an invited comment Aline Choisy said she was not aware that Bertin-Maurice had any conviction. She said even though he did, it does not constitute anyone killing him. Choisy said she is wondering why Bertin Maurice was not picked up by the authorities if they had a warrant for his arrest. Secondly, Choisy said she wants to know if the prosecutor and those that are working in the media does not consider the grieving family. She argued that there are a number of people including elected officials that has conviction and they are still among society. Choisy said right now the youths of St. Martin have turned to crime because there is no work for them to do. The school teacher further explained that she has to constantly be meeting with youths who are crying out for help. She said everyone including the elected and law enforcement have been condeming the youths rather than to find a solution for them.
