PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of First Instance in Sint Maarten on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, sentenced three men to seven years imprisonment each for their roles in a violent armed robbery and attempted manslaughter at Little Europe jewelry store on Front Street on May 9, 2025.
The defendants, K.M., J.M., and M.Z.G.J., were prosecuted in absentia, as they had been deported to Trinidad earlier this year under a summons-and-laissez-passer arrangement. They were represented in court by their attorney.
According to the prosecution, the men entered Little Europe armed with a firearm. During the robbery, a shot was fired through a glass door at very close range toward the store owner. All three defendants were aware that a weapon would be used. One of them, J.M., was responsible for controlling the people inside the store while the others carried out the theft. Their actions showed a coordinated plan and shared intent to commit the crime.
Witness statements and evidence revealed that during the robbery, one of the suspects shouted to the shooter, “shoot him, shoot him,” after realizing that the owner locked them in the store. The OM argued that each suspect played an interchangeable role in the offense, making them all equally responsible for both the armed robbery and the attempted manslaughter of the store owner.
The Prosecutor’s Office requested identical sentences of seven years imprisonment for each suspect, emphasizing that violent group robberies with firearms demand a strong judicial response. The Court followed this demand in full.
In addition, the Court granted the victims’ civil claims. The store owner was awarded XCG 50,000 in immaterial damages, plus statutory interest and legal fees. Another victim was awarded XCG 20,000 under the same conditions. The Court ruled that the three defendants are jointly liable for these payments.
The robbery at Little Europe caused significant concern among the Philipsburg business community, especially given the use of a firearm in a busy shopping area popular with both residents and visitors. The incident underscored the dangers faced by business owners and the need for continued vigilance against violent crime.
The Prosecutor’s Office takes these types of crimes extremely seriously. The use of firearms during robberies endangers lives and undermines the sense of safety in our community. The sentences imposed reflect the gravity of the offenses and serve as a clear warning that such violence will not go unpunished.
The OM SXM remains committed to ensuring that serious violent crimes are prosecuted vigorously and that victims of such offenses receive justice and fair compensation.