Philipsburg:--- Judge Tamara Thyhius sent a strong message to the three suspects that were found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murdering American citizens Michael and Thelma King on September 19th, 2012 and also for robbing the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant earlier that same evening. The main suspect Meyshane Kemar Johnson, a national of Jamaica, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Judge Thyhuis told Johnson that his actions on the evening of September 19th, 2012 were intentional and premeditated, while he acted out of greed when he robbed and murdered the Kings. Judge Thyhuis further told Johnson that his demeanor in the courtroom during the trial did not give her reason to believe that he is remorseful for his actions, especially towards the King family and the community of St. Maarten. Judge Thyhuis said the murder of the Kings basically destroyed the community of St. Maarten and affected the island's economy and tourism industry. The arguments presented by Johnson's lawyer Brenda Brooks were not considered especially when she asked the court to deem the prosecutor's case inadmissible. Judge Thyhuis said that there is no decision by any court that would show that the court or the prosecution infringed on Johnson's rights when they served him two summons on the same day. She said that the court found it legally and convincingly proven that Johnson robbed the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant and he also robbed the Kings and took their lives. Judge Thyhuis said the murders were intentional and premeditated, therefore the court found Johnson guilty of murdering both Michael and Thelma King and the punishment for this crime can only be a life sentence, especially since Johnson can ask for clemency. Johnson was convicted on all the charges presented by the prosecution on April 10th, 2013.
The second suspect Jeremiah Chevon Mills was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for the role he played in the brutal murders and robbery of the Kings and the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant. The court acquitted Mills for the murder of the Kings but found that he was indeed an accomplice to the killings that rocked St. Maarten. Judge Thyhuis said Mills is guilty of kidnapping Thelma King by using what looked like a gun to hold her hostage, tie her to a chair, and blindfold and gag her while he was also found guilty of giving Johnson a second knife to murder the Kings. Mills was also found guilty of laundering the monies and goods he gained from the robberies of Happy Star and the Kings.
Judge Thyhuis told Mills that she considered his age when deciding on his punishment as well as his criminal record. She told Mills that he did not show remorse for his actions during the trial and neither did he show any remorse towards the family of the Kings who are suffering the loss of their loved ones. As soon as Judge Tamara Thyhuis pronounced the 28 years sentence for Mills, he immediately asked for some water. But when leaving the courtroom, Mills looked at the King family all of whom attended the trial and smirked at them. He even told the police officer that was escorting him from the courtroom not to hold him. Judge Tamara Thyhuis sentenced the third suspect Jamal Jefferson Woolford to 22 years imprisonment for the robbery committed at the Happy Star Restaurant and the use of violence by cranking what appeared to be a gun. Woolford was acquitted for the murder of the Kings but he was also found guilty as an accomplice to the murders since he participated in kidnapping Thelma King, under threat he tied her to a chair and gagged and blindfolded her. Judge Thyhuis also found Woolford guilty on the charge of money laundering because he used the monies he gained from the two robberies along with the other two suspects on prostitutes and alcohol. She also found that Woolford did not show sufficient remorse for his actions and since the crimes he committed are serious, the court found that he should be put away for a very long period of time so that there is no recurrence of such crimes on St. Maarten.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos who was present when the decision of the court was pronounced told SMN News that he is very happy with the decision of the court. Mos said he is extremely satisfied because the judge followed almost all of their demands during the trial.
After the decision of the court was pronounced the King family that attended the trial began weeping and hugging each other as they consoled one another. They asked reporters that were present not to take their pictures. The Kings also promised to make a statement on the court decision sometime on Thursday.
