PHILIPSBURG--The four suspects in the Oro Diamante investigation will go on trial April 13. The two main suspects will be facing charges of armed robbery and of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter of two police officers, and firearm possession.
The two main suspects in this case are R.D. (24), a local rapper who goes by the name of Kilo Gotti. He was arrested after shooting Bike Patrol Officer Gamali Benjamin in his attempt to escape while trying to rob jewellery store Oro Diamante on August 5, 2015. Benjamin was the first St. Maarten police officer to die on duty.
Police shot R.D. in the stomach and knee near the old fire station on Cannegieter Street while he was trying to escape. The second suspect, J.L. (20), was captured in St. Peters after a five-day manhunt by police.
Both suspects will be led before a judge for questioning in the morning hours of April 13, it was announced Wednesday.
Two other suspects, O.A.C. (34) and M.H.A. (35) will be standing trial that same day, in the afternoon. They are charged with complicity in the armed robbery and in preparing the alleged crime.
All parties involved did not consider it a good idea to hear the cases of all four suspects at the same time. Attorney Geert Hatzmann said his client M.H.A., who is held for the driver of the getaway car, was “terrified” of the main suspects in this case.
During Wednesday’s preliminary hearing, Hatzmann requested the Court to lift or suspend his client’s pre-trial detention, but the Court denied the request, on recommendation of the Prosecutor’s Office.
Attorney Safira Ibrahim filed a similar request on behalf of O.A.C., which met the same fate. C. is also charged with aiding and abetting in the jewellery store’s robbery.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, C., who is a taxi driver by profession, would have ordered the mother of his stepchildren to make video-camera images of the store and the showcases inside the store.
Ibrahim said her client “vehemently” denies all charges, which also include possession of ammunition.
