Stiff sentences for four armed robbers

PHILIPSBURG--The Court of First Instance meted out sentences of between 15 years and four months and 22 years and 10 months against four men it held responsible for committing a range of violent armed robberies.

The most brutal of these crimes was the abduction of Dutch resident Wouter Romeijn (41), who was robbed, kidnapped and left for dead along Rhine Road in Maho on October 16, 2010.

Stevie A. Richardson (25), nicknamed "Scare", received the highest penalty of 22 years and ten months. He was given a 14-month reduction on his sentence for overspending his time in police detention.

Three weeks ago, Prosecutor Manon Ridderbeks had asked the maximum sentence of 30 years for Richardson, whom the Prosecutor's Office held as the instigator and organiser of the robberies, most of which were committed in October 2010.

During several of the armed robberies shots had been fired, while victims had also been threatened with firearms and knives. Several victims were injured and had feared for their lives.

Judge Monique Keppels stated in her written verdict that she held it against Richardson and his accomplices that less than a week after Romeijn's death, the men had burglarised a house in Pointe Blanche during which they had exerted violence against a man who had been sleeping.

First offender Alesco E. Violenus (21), against whom the prosecutor had asked for 26 years, was sentenced to 19 years.

Omar "Chucky" Nelson (20), who stood trial in absentia after he escaped from detention at the Pointe Blanche prison on March 19, was sentenced to 18 years. The Prosecutor's Office had asked for 22 years. In sentencing, the Court took into account that Nelson had cooperated with the police investigations.

Julio C. Encarnacion Vargas received the relatively light sentence of 15 years and four months, whereas the prosecutor had asked for 18 years.

During his trial, repeat offender Vargas had also admitted he had committed burglaries in Guana Bay, which the judge also took into account in sentencing. Seeing that he had overspent his time in police detention by eight weeks he received a reduction of eight months on his 16-year sentence.

The Prosecutor's Office is considering an appeal against the verdicts.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17389-stiff-sentences-for-four-armed-robbers.html

United Kingdom Cobham Liverpool Gay and lesbian travel Family finances Lancashire