‘Raping robbers’ ringleaders
sentenced to 17 years in appeal
PHILIPSBURG--The Joint Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba ruled Thursday in the appeals of five of the so-called “raping robbers.“ The appellants succeeded in their bids to have their sentences reduced, but the Joint Court still considered it proven that all five had participated in a series of armed robberies of private homes and businesses between August and November 2007. For these crimes the two ringleaders received 17 years.
Five robbers were convicted by the Court of First Instance to sentences ranging from nine years and seven months for the “minor” suspects to 25 years for main suspects Andrew Wilson (21) and Vincent Hanley (25).
Wilson and Hanley, who are incarcerated in Bon Futuro Prison in Curaçao, heard their sentences read out to them in Willemstad. The other three were served their written verdicts in St. Maarten.
Wilson and Hanley did not deny the major roles they had played in the long list of crimes, which were committed on an almost day-to-day basis by a random group of men who gathered “under a tree” in Sucker Garden. Wilson had admitted to no less than 23 crimes and Hanley had confessed to 18 crimes. These crimes included the rape of two Chinese girls, an American tourist and a bar waitress during three different robberies.
Threatening their victims with revolvers, shotguns and machetes, beating them and tying them up, the suspects had stolen a large number of items.
The three judges of the Joint Court considered the charges proven, but took into account that Hanley and Wilson had confessed and had cooperated in the police investigations. They also took into account that a psychologist had established that Wilson’s intelligence was below average and that he therefore should be held less accountable for his acts. These considerations led the Court to impose 17 years on both suspects.
Three other suspects also heard the results of their appeals on Thursday. Andrew Simmon (33) was accused of rape and of facilitating the gang members as a driver. If it had been up to the Prosecutor’s Office he would have been jailed for 12 years. The Court of First Instance had sentenced him to 10 years.
Simmon had denied involvement in rape, but admitted that he had been on the crime scene. The Joint Court considered him an accomplice in the rape of an American tourist and considered it proven that he had participated in four armed robberies and had had a firearm in his possession. For these crimes he was sentenced to nine years.
Orlando Thewet (28) was acquitted of the rape charge, but the Joint Court considered it proven that he had taken part in armed robberies and had had a weapon in his possession. He was sentenced to seven years and one month, receiving a five-month reduction for having spent too much time in police detention.
Thewet was sentenced in the Court of First Instance to nine years and seven months. The Procurator General had requested 15 years.
Rudolph Marlin (19) was sentenced to 15 years and seven months in August. The Joint Court found him guilty of 11 counts, including rape, but acquitted him of the robbery of a Chinese restaurant because he had stayed in the getaway car of which he was the designated driver. The Procurator General had asked for 21 years, but the Joint Court did not go further than 14 years and seven months.
The appeal hearing of Daniel King (20), who is sitting out 10 years, will take place on December 10.
