Oyster Pond:--- St. Maarten has recorded another murder, this time on the Dutch side of the island in the vicinity of Casa Blanca Adult Entertainment club. David Eustace (41) is the son of Carmen Priest and proprietor of Casa Blanca was shot shortly before 4pm at the entrance of the business place. On the scene was his mother who waited until the undertakers removed the body from the scene.
According to information reaching SMN News, Eustace was shot on the right side of his abdomen with a shot gun. He was shot three times at point blank range from the passenger side of the Chevy bus. The shooting it is alleged seems more like a hit and not any type of robbery. Eustace was driving a bus which had one of his close friends Leroy Richardson (Sweet Leroy) inside the bus when they left Casa Blanca. Police found at least four spent shells belonging to a shot gun on the scene.
This media house has been reliably informed that a green Samurai soft top jeep with either two occupants was in the immedate area of the adult entertainment club. The number plate on the vehicle it is understood was covered with a piece of cloth while the shooters remained unmasked.
SMN News further learnt that the occupants of the jeep stopped Eustace as he was leaving the club. Eustace it is said stopped and the shooter approached the driver side then he walked over to the passenger side of the bus, opened the door and told Sweet Leroy to bend down (duck down) and proceed to shoot Eustace in his abdomen. The vehicle continued moving and ended up in a nearby trench. The businessman died on the spot.
Police is baffled with a number of things which to them does not seem right. One of those things is why Sweet Leroy who was accompanying Eustace to see a lawyer was seated in the back of the bus, while the passenger seat remained vacant. The gunman shot Eustace from the passenger side of the bus.
According to several persons on the scene Sweet Leroy got off the bus when it stopped and began running towards the hills, back to Casa Blanca. It is not clear why the shooters did not interfere or hurt Sweet Leroy an eyewitnesses to the broad daylight murder. Leroy Richardson (Sweet Leroy) was invited to the police station where a statement was taken from him as the main eyewitness.
SMN News learnt that Sweet Leroy was taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center sometime in the evening as he took in ill due to the shock of witnessing his friend’s murder. It is understood that after Richardson received his treatment after which police went with him to an undisclosed location to further question him.
SMN News has learnt that the victim is indebted to a number of persons. SMN News further learnt that Eustace owed at least one businessman over $20,000 while he has monies for other people. The souce said police is trying to figure out if the killing is linked to Eustace's financial problems.
On September 9 2009, Eustace filed a petition against Carolina Bar with the Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran. In his petition he stated that Carolina Bar was operating illegally as a house of prostitution. The petition filed is based on the sex industry policy of 2003. Eustace also included in his petition that the Seamans Club relocated illegally.
Police is busy investigating the killing and the motive of the execution style murder. David Eustace is also known as David Priest in the community of St. Maarten.
In the meantime, this is the third murder for the week, two of the killings took place on the French side of the island.
SMN News also learnt the gendarmes are busy investigating another shooting which took place on Thursday night in Colombier. It is understood that some Haitians had an argument and gun shots were fired. It is not clear if anyone was injured in this incident.