The three suspects M.K.J. (29) from Jamaica, J.J.W. (21) from Guyana and St. Maartener J.C.M. (18) are charged with the murders of Thelma and Michael King, and with theft with violence and deprivation of liberty.

 

They were also charged with laundering the proceeds of this crime and of armed robbery of a Chinese restaurant on Cannegieter Street on September 19, 2012.

 

The Kings were found murdered in their St. Maarten condominium at Ocean Club Villas on September 21, 2012.

 

Judge Tamara Tijhuis ordered a review and inspection at the Kings' apartment on Rhine Road in Cupecoy. The Prosecutor's Office deemed a so-called reconstruction at the crime scene necessary to establish what had exactly transpired.

 

The reconstruction will be taking place on March 8, in the presence of the defendants and their lawyers, the Judge, Court officials, Prosecutors and the Police. No one else will be allowed on the scene during the investigations, the media included, Judge Tijhuis stated.

 

The reconstruction, which will start at 2:30pm, is expected to take several hours and may continue into the evening hours.

 

The operations will be recorded by audio-visual equipment and will also involve members of the Police's Technical Investigation Department.

 

During a previous hearing, held January 22, attorneys Shaira Bommel and Aernout Kraaijeveld had requested psychological assessments of their clients J.C.M. and J.J.W. Both lawyers were critical of the assessment that had been presented to the Court, stating the psychiatrist had based his conclusions about their clients' full accountability on one brief intake interview alone.

 

The attorneys requested full psychological assessments and more elaborate statements on the references made to possible anti-social disorders.

 

Prosecutor Dounia Benammar pointed to the fact that not every disorder automatically leads to consequences where the accountability of crime suspects is concerned.

 

"Anti-social traits or disorders do not always lead to lesser accountability and the reduction of sentences or other judicial consequences," the Prosecutor said.

 

Judge Tijhuis agreed with the lawyers that the reports were only based on brief assessments. The Judge referred this matter back to the Judge of Instruction, who is to arrange for additional consultations by a psychiatrist and the drafting of more extensive reports on all three suspects.

 

The results of technical investigations, including DNA-samples investigated at the Dutch Forensic Institute NFI, have in the meantime been added to the case file, Prosecutor Georges van den Eshof stated.

 

Attorneys Bommel en Kraaijeveld both requested the inclusion of video camera images in the files.

The three suspects declined to comment on Tuesday's technical discussions in court. The actual trial will be taking place April 9 and 10. The verdict will most likely be given on May 8.

 

(The Daily Herald)

 

The suspects in this case were represented by attorneys at law Shaira Bommel and Aernout Kraaijeveld. Shaira Bommel is an attorney at law firm Sulvaran & Peterson on Sint Maarten. Aernout Kraaijeveld is an attorney at law firm Gibson & Associates on Sint Maarten.