PHILIPSBURG:--- A third suspect identified as J.J 18 years old have been released from pretrial detention on Friday confirmed press prosecutor Karola Van Nie. Van Nie said J. J was in custody as a suspect that was involved in a case of ‘chain snatching with violence.’ Van Nie further explained that case is two years old but the suspect was only caught when they did the house search in St. Peters to arrest the second suspect that was involved in the armed robbery and shooting death of bike patrol Gamali Benjamin.
Van Nie identified the third suspect that is still in custody is J. G 30 years of age who had ammunition when the house search was conducted where the second suspect was arrested. J.L 20 years old is considered to be the second suspect that was involved in the daring daylight armed robbery case along with R.D 23 years old who is still a patient at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). Van Nie said that the suspects appeared before the judge of instruction on Friday and their pretrial detention were extended for another eight days. Asked what is the current medical condition of the suspect that is still hospitalized Van Nie said that the suspect cannot be moved from the SMMC and he has to be monitored very closely. She gave no further details on the suspect medical condition. The next time R. D appears before the judge of instruction he will be going for the 60 days pretrial extension, while the two other suspects will appear for the second eight days extension.
Police arrested some six suspects in the ongoing investigation, one being the brother of the main suspect R.D that was shot and arrested the day of the armed robbery. That suspect has been identified as F D, he was accused of tampering with evidence at his brother’s house after the robbery and shooting but was released two days after his arrest.