WILLEMSTAD - The 25-year-old man from the Dominican Republic has been acquitted of all charges in the tragic traffic accident with fatal consequences at the base of the Julianabrug.
The accident occurred on December 24, 2021, resulting in the death of Miguel Marte Peguero, a 28-year-old man, also from the Dominican Republic.
The defendant was accused of driving under the influence, reckless behavior, driving without a license, and failure to fasten the seatbelt of the victim, who was seated next to him.
Understandable Choice
The Public Prosecution Service had demanded a nine-month prison sentence, a two-year driving ban, 240 hours of community service, and a two-year probationary period.
During the proceedings, it emerged that the defendant acted in an emergency situation to assist his friend, who had suffered four gunshot wounds. According to the judge, there was a clear and understandable choice made in a stressful situation, where the defendant sought to quickly provide aid to his injured friend.
Although it was proven that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, the court acquitted him based on the circumstances and the fact that he believed his friend's injuries to be severe.
Acoya
The tragic incident took place after the suspect and the victim were involved in a conflict in Acoya. As he was walking to his car, he heard a gunshot and then someone calling his name three times.
When he got into his car, a friend of his also jumped in and asked him to drive away because someone was shooting at him. According to the suspect, he drove away from Acoya, through Saliña, to get on the bridge.
Along the way, the victim asked for help, saying he felt cold and begged not to die. The suspect said this deeply affected him, and he tried to reassure the victim by saying they were almost at the hospital and that he should remain calm.
However, due to the shock, he lost control of the vehicle, went over the guardrail, and ended up on Arubastraat with fatal consequences. He has no recollection of that day.
The medical examination revealed that the gunshot wounds of the victim were not fatal, but the consequences of the accident led to his death.
Self-defense
Despite the tragic outcome and the mistakes made, the court ruled that the suspect acted genuinely in self-defense and, therefore, decided not to impose a sentence.