Sources say the young lady who is in her early twenties left the Tantra Night Club with a male companion and another female who was dropped off some distance away from Tantra. SMN News further learnt that the victim and the male driver of the car were on their way to Marigot where they both live, when four men in another vehicle slammed into their car. It is understood that the culprits intentionally hit the car so that the occupants would stop. SMN News learnt that when the car stopped the culprits dragged the young woman out of the car and took turns in raping her. It is further learnt that the young lady suffer severe damages but spent most of the day at the gendarmerie in La Savanne giving investigators information on her ordeal. It is not clear at this time if the victim who was picked up by the gendarmes from the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on Thursday will return to the institution for further treatment.
SMN News further learnt that the student is from Guadeloupe and she was scheduled to leave the island after she completed her internship. Sources say the young lady is currently studying in France and she was exploring other ideas which would aid her in completing her studies. "The young lady was of great help to Nature Foundation especially when it comes to turtles."
The St. Maarten Nature Foundation closed its office on Thursday when they learnt of the gruesome rape. It is further understood that the workers at Nature Foundation were emotionally distraught and they needed time to cope with what happened to their colleague.
On July 21, at least eight men in two vehicles committed a similar act in Grand Case, where two visitors who were staying at Baie Nettle were attacked and allegedly raped. When SMN News learnt of the incident we also learnt that the female victims left the island the following day out of disgust and fear. At the time commandant Stephane Brunet of the gendarmerie said while there were an accident and robbery the victims were not raped. Brunet said the suspects attempted to fondle one of the victims during that incident. To date no one has been arrested for that robbery and attempted rape.
SMN News contacted the commandant Stephane Brunet on Thursday about the rape and robbery that was committed on Wednesday night. Brunet said several gendarmes from the brigade are currently investigating the rape of the young student. However, the commandant said he has no authority to give out information on the current investigation and that members of the media must contact Prosecutor Defirmas in Guadeloupe for information. Several attempts to contact the prosecutor proved futile on Thursday.
