WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice has upheld an 11-year prison sentence in connection with a fatal shooting at a Chinese store on Xing Dai, located on Cocolodeweg in Montaña.
The case centers on a shooting incident in September 2024 that resulted in the death of a man identified as Omario. The suspect admitted in both the initial trial and on appeal that he fired the shots, claiming he acted in self-defense.
The court rejected that defense. According to the judges, there was no immediate threat at the time of the incident. The victim was not armed and was not advancing toward the suspect, making a claim of self-defense implausible.
Investigators determined that three shots were fired, fatally wounding the victim at the scene. The court emphasized that the act was deliberate and took place in a public setting where bystanders were present, increasing the seriousness of the offense.
The original sentence of 11 years, imposed by the lower court, was therefore confirmed. The Public Prosecution Service had sought a longer sentence of 13 years, but the court did not grant that request.
The ruling brings the case to a close at the appellate level, reaffirming the court’s position on the use of lethal force outside of clear self-defense circumstances.