WILLEMSTAD – Shurendy “Tyson” Quant and Urvin “Nuto” Wawoe allegedly offered a reward of ANG 1 million for the murder of rival gang leader Erwin “Djais” Juliana, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Juliana, identified as a leader of the Buena Vista City (BVC) gang, was shot and killed together with Shentley “Champi” Arnhem during the notorious Hato Airport shooting on July 15, 2014. Seven bystanders were injured.
Quant and Wawoe
Prosecutors again presented the alleged ANG 1 million bounty Monday during the first pro forma hearing in the criminal case against Quant.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office considers Quant one of the leaders of the No Limit Soldiers (NLS) and has accused him of twelve serious criminal offenses.
According to prosecutors, Juliana was the specific target of the Hato attack.
The shooting allegedly stemmed from a violent conflict between NLS and BVC after members of BVC were accused of stealing drugs belonging to NLS.
Seven people have since been convicted for their involvement in the Hato shooting. According to prosecutors, six of them were NLS members.
Witnesses Point to NLS Leadership
The prosecution alleges that Quant and Wawoe, as NLS leaders, made ANG 1 million available as payment for Juliana’s murder.
During Monday’s hearing, the prosecutor referred to several witness statements concerning the alleged drug robbery, the conflict that followed and payments purportedly made on behalf of the NLS leadership.
Juliana himself also reportedly told police in May 2013 that “Tyson” wanted to pay people to have him killed.
The allegation that NLS leadership ordered the Hato attack is not new.
Prosecutors presented a largely similar theory during the criminal proceedings against Wawoe last year.
Wawoe was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment for other murders and his leadership role within NLS. However, the court did not convict him of ordering the Hato Airport shooting.
That earlier ruling could become important in the prosecution of Quant.
The court found there were strong indications that Wawoe may have been among those who commissioned the Hato attack. It also concluded that the gunmen carried out the killings for payment and on behalf of others.
However, those circumstances were not enough to prove beyond the required legal standard that Wawoe personally ordered the attack.
Prosecution Must Establish Quant’s Individual Role
Prosecutors will now face the challenge of establishing Quant’s individual connection to the alleged murder contract.
To secure a conviction for instigating a murder, it is not sufficient to show that a suspect knew an assassination was being planned or occupied a leadership position within a criminal organization.
There must be sufficient evidence connecting that individual to the act of instigation, such as offering payment, issuing an order or engaging in another concrete act intended to bring about the crime.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is expected to rely partly on encrypted communications attributed to Quant as it attempts to establish that connection.
Whether those communications directly connect Quant to the alleged ANG 1 million bounty and the order to kill Juliana remains to be established during the substantive proceedings.
Quant has not responded substantively to the allegations and exercised his right to remain silent during Monday’s hearing.
His next pro forma hearing is scheduled for November 27.