PHILIPSBURG–The British couple suspected of involuntary manslaughter in the United States (US) who were arrested in St. Maarten last week Friday were released on Tuesday afternoon.
Attorney-at-law Remco Stomp, who represents the couple, said they had been working as charter crew for the last 10 years, with the man being captain and his partner as crew. He said this was why they had visited so many destinations.
“In short, the Bonnie-and-Clyde picture the US authorities have painted of my clients simply holds no water,” Stomp said. He requested their immediate release and offered bail. The Judge granted the request, Stomp said.
The US Justice Department had formally requested the arrest and deportation of the couple to Miami, Florida, in the US. The US authorities said the couple had been on the run from the Justice Department, citing the many countries and islands they had visited during the last couple of years.
Interpol St. Maarten, as part of the St. Maarten Police Force, in cooperation with the St. Maarten office of Attorney-General Taco Stein, arrested the two in the Cole Bay area. They are accused of involuntary manslaughter and giving false official statements, committed in the period of 2011-2012.
Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a police press release on Sunday that the 50-year-old man C.J. and a 47-year-old woman A.G. had been living and working in Dutch St. Maarten since the start of this year.
“Apparently after the fact, both suspects left the USA and could not be traced by US officials. As a result of this, two red notices (international arrest warrants) were issued by Interpol Washington,” the release stated.
Interpol has 190 member countries. These member countries actively assist each other in global crime fighting. The red notice is one of the tools used by Interpol to track down, locate and arrest fugitives in criminal cases.
Interpol St. Maarten investigates these notices on a regular basis to be able to help the other member countries. Interpol St. Maarten states that St. Maarten is not a country where internationally wanted fugitives are able to hide and live a normal life, Henson said in the report.
INTERPOL RELEASES BRITISH COUPLE ARRESTED IN ST MAARTEN ON FRIDAY FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE UNITED STATES