PHILIPSBURG:---- Suspected of killing a 6 month year old boy, M.D known as Shorty was release last week by the office of the public prosecutor of St. Maarten. According to a source close to the family of the baby, the young lady was responsible to baby sit two kids. The 6 month old and a 4 year old boy.
In March this year, the woman was babysitting the kids when neighbors heard crying in the apartment next door. The screams continued for a while and neighbors knocked on the door and asked the young lady if she needed any help with the kids. She replied “no” and closed the door. The father of the baby called several times asking if everything was alright and she replied yes. Several hours later the father of the victim came home and found his son dead. The woman told the father that the four year old boy was playing with the child and dropped him. When asked why she did not call for help, she could not answer.
Police was called and the lady was taken into custody, examiners do not believe that the child was dropped. According to reports the child had a deep cut behind his head. Shorty was arrested and released last week until her trial date. The body was transported to the Netherlands were a full body autopsy was done. SMN News understands that the parents of the boy are outraged that the woman is out of jail. Press Prosecutor Karola Van Nie said she is aware of the suspect's release but was unable to say under what conditions she was released. Prosecutor Van Nie promised to get that information and provide to SMN News before the end of the week.
Pre-trial detention of 23-year old woman suspended
The 23-year-old woman, M.N.D, who is suspected of manslaughter of a 7 month old baby (girl), is released from her pre-trial detention on Monday 29th of June, 2015. The woman was arrested on Friday, May 29th, 2015. During the investigation a reconstruction took place at the crime-scene under authority of the prosecutor handling the case and witnesses have been questioned. The investigation, which also
entails forensic investigation, is still going on. It is a complicated investigation and there are still some important ambiguities. Although there is still a strong suspicion against the suspect, there is insufficient reason to keep her longer in pretrial detention. The Public Prosecutor’s Office therefore agreed with a suspension of her pre-trial detention under certain special conditions. She must comply with electronic monitoring and cooperate fully with the probation service. A psychological and/or psychiatric report
can be part of that. A court date has not been planned yet.
Voorlopige hechtenis van 23-jarige verdachte is opgeschort
De 23-jarige vrouw, M.N.D., die verdacht wordt van de doodslag van een 7 maanden oude baby (meisje), is maandag 29 juni 2015 vrijgelaten uit haar voorlopige hechtenis. De vrouw was op vrijdag 29 mei 2015 aangehouden. Gedurende het onderzoek dat heeft plaatsgevonden, heeft er een reconstructie plaatsgevonden op de plaats delict onder leiding van de officier van justitie en zijn er getuigen gehoord.
Het onderzoek, dat ook forensisch onderzoek inhoudt, is nog niet afgerond. Het is een gecompliceerd onderzoek en er zijn nog een aantal belangrijke onduidelijkheden. Hoewel er nog steeds sprake is van een reële verdenking in de richting van de verdachte, is er onvoldoende aanleiding om haar nog langer vast te houden. Het Openbaar Ministerie heeft daarom ingestemd met een schorsing van haar gevangenhouding met bijzondere voorwaarden. De verdachte moet zich houden aan elektronisch toezicht en moet volledig meewerken met de reclassering. Een psychologische en/of psychiatrische rapportage kan hiervan deel uitmaken. Er is nog geen zittingsdatum gepland.
Press Statement from Press Prosecutor Karola Van Nie
