Teen sentenced for tourist attack

~~Adz:Left~~Philipsburg, St. Maarten – Jamal Mario Matilda was yesterday sentenced to seventeen months behind bars for his role in a June 24 robbery of a tourist couple. 18-year-old Matilda’s apparent remorse may have influenced Judge Rob Goossens’ decision when handing down the sentence some, including the judge, viewed as ‘too lenient’ for the nature of the crime.

Matilda admitted to being part of a group of robbers who attacked the Russian and Ukrainian tourists outside Food Express Supermarket in the Mahoe area.

Wielding machetes, the band of five robbers stripped the victims of a golden necklace, money and a handbag. During the crime, the tourists sustained injuries for which they had to receive medical treatment.
The thieves also stole a car to make their getaway.

Matilda told the judge he was sorry for his violent actions but claimed he acted out of financial desperation as he had to help support his mother who was behind on rental remittances and had to provide for three other children.

Prosecutor Rienk Mud was unmoved, citing the act of violence as ‘very serious and headline-making’.
“These crimes are putting St. Maarten in a bad light; however putting you behind bars may not be the best solution,” he told the apologetic teen. Mud then requested an 18-month sentence.

Judge Goossens expressed displeasure at the minimal sentencing request but acquiesced. He also heard an argument from defense attorney Thijs Jan Leysen who implored the judge to consider an alternate punishment. Leysen said a prison term would only serve to further derail his client who was at the time attending a vocational school.

Goossens granted a one-month reduction in the sentence as Matilda had spent an extra week in police custody and sentenced the teen to seventeen months in prison.

Three of the other co-conspirators saw their cases postponed and the youngest of the group, a fourteen-year-old male was acquitted of all charges.