PHILIPSBURG--The suspects in the fatal gas-station shooting R.R. (23) and B.D. (22) received an additional sixty-day detention from the Court of Instruction on Tuesday.
Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Karola van Nie confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and the detention of the suspects indeed had been extended.
The two men are accused of robbing the Sol gas station in Cole Bay on November 30 and killing attendant Gerard Saulveur. They also are accused of robbing the Sol gas station in Simpson Bay later that same day. The police captured the two suspects during a control on the causeway bridge.
Investigators are trying to piece together exactly what transpired on the day of the shooting. Thus far, it has been determined that Saulveur did not comply with B.D.’s demand to hand over cash he had in his possession and was shot.
B.D. is well known to the police. He was charged in 2014 for illegal gun possession and trying to evade police capture. He was arrested with another suspect and sentenced. He was released from prison in March this year and was said to have returned to his life of crime.
Saulveur was known as a no-nonsense person and had worked with the Sol gas station for many years. Following his murder, gas stations on St. Maarten have requested that something be done as soon as possible about the increase in crime on the island.
The second suspect R.R. had an outstanding warrant in neighbouring St. Kitts and Nevis, but after questioning he was released by the police there.
The case is expected to be handled early in 2016.
