PHILIPSBURG--Officer of Police Force of St. Maarten KPSM Akil R.S. van Heyningen (31) was found guilty on Wednesday, by the Court of First Instance of having committed domestic violence against two former girlfriends.

 

For these crimes, the officer was sentenced to eight months suspended, with three years’ probation and 120 hours of community service.

 

The officer, who was featured on posters used in a Police recruitment drive, was charged with the “systematical” infliction of severe bodily harm and mistreatment.

 

For these crimes, the Prosecutor’s Office had called for 12 months suspended, with three years’ probation and Parole Board supervision, mandatory treatment at Turning Point rehabilitation centre, payment of NAf. 10,000 in damages and 180 hours of community service. The officer has been suspended from his job since March 2014.

 

One of the battered women was the girlfriend of the late Eric Lake, who was shot and killed at Cat’s Shopping Centre on A.Th. Illidge Road on August 17, 2011. Lake was one of the victims in the so-called Vesuvius case concerning the spree of violence that followed the death of Amador Jones, who was killed on April 16, 2011, in retaliation for a “rip” deal.

 

Officer Van Heyningen became acquainted with the late Lake’s girlfriend in January 2012, in connection with the investigations and started a relationship against his superiors’ advice to put an end to it.

 

Despite a long list of violent incidents that were reported to the Prosecutor’s Office, he claimed he was not a violent man and had never slapped her or any other woman with whom he had been in a relationship.

 

In one of these incidents, Lake’s ex claimed a perforated eardrum after Van Heyningen had dealt her a blow to her head. The Court, however, dismissed this case as a letter by the ear, nose and throat specialist did not contain any evidence of severe bodily harm.

 

By contrast, it was found proven that the defendant had hit, punched and kicked one of his victims and had slammed the woman’s head against the windshield and dashboard of his police vehicle.

 

In an earlier relationship, between December 2008 and August 2009, the defendant had also committed mistreatment in hitting and punching this woman, in forcefully pushing her against a cupboard and in slamming her head against a wall.

 

The Court held it against defendant that he had used (excessive) violence against women with whom he had been in a relationship. One of the women had been pregnant with his child.

 

“Suspect acted in aggressive anger, usually ignited by jealousy, but in every case from a self-imposed position of power over these women. He displayed a profound disrespect of the physical, -and also mental-, integrity of his victims,” the Court stated.

 

The Judge held it in suspect’s favour that he had no prior convictions and had voluntarily submitted himself to psychiatric treatment for his aggressive behaviour.

 

Based on a psychologist’s report, on the other hand, the Court established that the defendant had no self-understanding. The psychologist held him fully accountable, but also found traits of a narcissistic personality disorder, such as a lack of empathy, an (exaggerated) sense of importance and the impression he had “special rights.” Parole Board guidance and psychotherapy were recommended.

 

Attorney Melinda Hoeve had filed for damages to the tune of NAf. 10,000 on behalf of one of the victims. The Court, however, rejected damages as claims of psychological damage and hearing loss were insufficiently substantiated.

 

The Daily Herald