La Savane: --- In a join press conference held between the Gendarmes and the Police of Dutch St. Maarten it has been disclosed that the case of Victor Vanier who was stabbed on October 31 2008 next to an ATM machine in Simpson Bay was not a robbery instead it was a fight that got out of hand. Acting Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek with head of Detectives Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran made the discloser in the presence of Captain Loic Baras.
Commissioner of Police and Head of Detectives Ademar Doran said the fight began further down the road involving about six to ten persons and ended where the stabbing took place.
The detective head said based on the information they have thus far the case is that of a fight and not a robbery as reported in the beginning. Panneflek also confirmed that the main suspect a 14 year old Dutch National has been transferred to Curacao for physiological evaluation while one of the five suspects has been released. He said they are not able to say how long the evaluation will take but this case will definitely be sent to court at a later date.
The suspect who was released is another 14 year old who was released on the judge's order since the judge does not feel police has enough to continue holding the minor confirmed Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein.
Remaining in custody locally is three other suspects the oldest is a 16-year old who can be prosecuted as an adult based on the Dutch law. Stein said they intend to prosecute all the suspects who are minors as well as Dutch nationals but a definite decision has not been taken as yet. Stein said.
Panneflek made clear that despite the fact minors are protected, they cannot get away committing heinous crimes. The acting police chief said even though one of the suspects is released he would be called to appear in court as the intention to make sure these youngsters are prosecuted.
"My message to you here today is that minors must not believe that because they are underage they can do anything and get away with nothing. People might be thinking that they can get away with criminal acts. He said this is the reason they are enhancing cooperation between the two sides. Criminals have to know that if they commit a crime on the Dutch side they will not escape of the hands of the law if they run to the French side and vice versa." Panneflek said.
Both Panneflek and Doran said the investigation is still ongoing and they are not in a position to release much more information since they are dealing with minors who has more protection within the judicial system.
Head of Detectives Ademar Doran said they have enough evidence since they managed to question several witnesses, from both sides as well as video surveillance to take the case to court. The suspect who already confessed to police as being the one to inflict the fatal wound would not be sent to prison if prosecuted even though he would be sent before the judge. It is likely that the youth would be confined to a youth correctional facility where he would have to receive treatment if needed.
Commandant Loic Baras said even though French authorities can ask for the case to be tried on the French side since the victim in this case is a French national that will be difficult to pursuit since the Dutch side may not extradite a Dutch National and most of all a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. However, it the prosecutor's office of Guadeloupe and St. Maarten are ones to decide how the case will be handled. So far the French did not make an official request for extradition confirmed Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein. "So far it looks like the Dutch would handle this case since the crime was committed on the Dutch side and the suspects are all Dutch, but it is too early for me to say exactly how the trial will go" Stein said.
Doran said that the suspect is the only one who had a knife at the time of the incident and he is one that stabbed Vanier as well as injuring the other persons who were with him during the early morning brawl.
SMN News understands that the family of Vanier was seeking to remove him from St. Martin due to the fact he was exposed to drug influence while on the island. However, the top cops said so far they have not linked the case o drugs.
