PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of Appeals overturned the verdicts the Court of First Instance pronounced on May 8th, 2013 in the Ocean murder trial and gave a new decision on December 30th, 2013. The proceeding was delayed for over one hour because the court translator did not show up for the session. Relatives of the victims who traveled from the USA and the relatives of the suspects seemed impatient as they waited on the translator who told the court when she was called to duty that she needed at least one hour to get dressed.
The main suspect Meyshane Kemar Johnson was found guilty on all six charges ranging from the robbery committed at Happy Star Restaurant on the night of September 19th, 2013 to the robbery and brutal murder of Michael and Thelma King and the laundering of the monies and goods stolen from the two places. The panel comprised of three judges also found that Johnson who is a former security guard guilty of the premeditated murder of both Michael and Thelma King. The court found the statements given by Johnson when he was questioned by police to be credible even though he claimed both in the Court of First Instance and during the appeal hearing that he cannot remember the events of that fatal night. They also found that even though Johnson might have some mental or other problems, he is fully responsible for the crimes he committed.
The Court of Appeals threw out the life sentence imposed on Johnson by the lower court and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment for the gruesome crimes he committed considering that he is a first time offender and that he is just 30 years old. The time spent in pre-trial detention will also be deducted from the 30 year sentence imposed. When the verdict was given, the brother of the late Michael King's jaw dropped as he was surely disappointed with the decision of the court.
Meyshane Kemar Johnson has two weeks in which to file an appeal with the Supreme Court in the Netherlands if he is not in favor of the decision rendered on Monday. Relatives of Johnson who was present at the hearing indicated to SMN News that they will file an appeal as soon as possible because the prosecution made too many mistakes when handling the case.
The arguments presented by Attorney at Law Brenda Brooks during the appeal hearing were thrown out. Brooks had asked the court to deem the third summons delivered to her client null and void and to deem the prosecution's case inadmissible. The prosecution issued three summons to Meyshane Kemar Johnson for him to appear in court on January 10th and 17th 2013. The Court of Appeals already threw out the first summons when the first appeal was filed. Johnson was seen leaving the courtroom with a huge smile on his face as he seemed more than content with the court's decision to overturn the life sentence that was imposed by the lower courts.
Woolford Acquitted on Both Murders --- 18 years behind bars.
The Court of Appeals also threw out the decision handed down by the Court of First Instance for Jamal Jefferson Woolford. Woolford was sentenced to 22 years behind bars for robbing the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant on September 19th and robbing the Kings while they were asleep in their Cupecoy villa. He was also found guilty by the lower court as an accomplice in the murder of the Kings.
The Court of Appeals found that the prosecution did not prove their case when they charged Woolford as an accomplice or collaborator in the murder of the Kings, therefore they acquitted him on both murder charges. Woolford was found guilty of robbing the Happy Star Restaurant under the threat of a gun (BB gun), robbing the Kings, holding Thelma King under duress and kidnapping her when he assisted in blindfolding and tying her to a chair, and the laundering of the monies and goods stolen.
They court also considered Woolford responsible for leaving Johnson in the apartment with the two victims even though he saw Johnson had a weapon and had cut Michael King's throat. Woolford was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for the crimes he committed. The time Woolford spent in pretrial detention will be deducted from his sentence. He also have a period of two weeks to submit an appeal to the Supreme Court if he does not agree with the decision rendered on Monday. The court found that Woolford is anti-social and is dependent (addicted) to drugs and alcohol.
Jeremiah Chevon Mills shows arrogance while leaving the Court Room.
Jeremiah Chevon Mills, a troubled teenager who has had problems with the law prior to being convicted for the Kings murder, seems not to care and showed no respect to the court or to the family of the Kings who were in the court room on Monday. Mills who was on probation at the time of the Kings' murder slammed the door of the courtroom with his fist as he was led out of court. When the judge was reading the decision rendered by the Court of Appeals, twice he made remarks such as you mixed things up. At one point, the judge who was reading out the decision had to tell Mills she is reading what is written in the decision taken by the Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals acquitted Mills for the murder of Thelma King since both Johnson and Woolford told investigators while in pre-trial detention that Mills and Woolford had left the building when they finished tying Thelma King to a chair. The court found Mills guilty as an accomplice of the murder of Michael King since he was in close proximity of Johnson when he cut Michael's throat and he also gave Johnson the second knife that was used to stab Michael King multiple times.
They both told the court they tied and blindfolded Thelma King because wanted to escape from the scene easily. However, the Court of Appeals found Jeremiah Chevon Mills guilty of five of the six charges. He was found guilty as an accomplice to the murder of Michael King because he is the one that placed a fire extinguisher on chair to hit Michael King if it was necessary. Mills also assisted Johnson by giving him a second knife from the kitchen when the first knife broke in Michael's body. He was also found guilty of robbing the Kings, robbing Happy Star Restaurant under threat, holding Thelma King under duress and kidnapping her when he assisted in blindfolding her and tying her to a chair, and the laundering of the monies and goods stolen from both places.
He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, time spent in pre-trial detention will be deducted from his sentence. Mills has two weeks to submit an appeal to the Supreme Court if he is not in favor of the decision rendered on Monday. The Court of Appeals also took into consideration that Mills was convicted for theft and extortion prior to this crime, he is dependent (addicted) to drugs, ecstasy, and alcohol, and he also has an anti-social behavior based on the psychologist's report.
His mother already indicated that she will follow through and file an appeal with the Supreme Court because her son was a minor when he committed the crimes on September 19th, 2013.
While it appears as though these three suspects were given harsh punishment, both Johnson and Woolford could benefit from the one third deduction granted to foreigners that are convicted while they could also get reduced time from their sentences for good behavior and if they work while in prison.