WILLEMSTAD – The Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded an 18-year prison sentence for Quincley Emanuel Poppen (29) for the murder of Yinghua Wu, a Chinese shopkeeper who was shot and killed in 2013 during an armed robbery at Hua Jiant Minimarket on Oude Caracasbaaiweg. The crime occurred just one day after the murder of Helmin Wiels. Poppen was arrested last year in Dominica, after being on the run for several years.
Wu was shot dead on May 9, 2013, in front of his family. According to the prosecution, Poppen—then 18 years old—entered the store armed with a gun and threatened the staff. A struggle ensued, during which the weapon discharged, killing Wu. Poppen and his accomplices then fled the scene.
Despite an international arrest warrant issued through Interpol, initial efforts to locate Poppen in Curaçao, the Netherlands, and St. Kitts & Nevis were unsuccessful. He was eventually tracked down in Dominica, where he had been living under a false identity.
Intent vs. Murder Charge
During the trial, Poppen admitted his involvement in the robbery but claimed he never intended to kill anyone. He stated that he returned to the store because he had forgotten his phone, at which point a struggle with the victim broke out, leading to the fatal gunshot. Poppen insisted that at the time, he was young and afraid and did not know how to handle the situation.
He also claimed that he committed the robbery to support his mother financially, but his mother refuted this, stating that their family was financially stable at the time.
The prosecutor considers the charge proven, citing Poppen’s own statements and security camera footage as key evidence. According to the prosecution, Poppen acted violently and fled the island immediately, showing no accountability for his actions. The 18-year sentence requested is in line with a previous conviction in absentia.
A final verdict is expected on March 12.