PHILIPSBURG--The Judge in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday postponed the hearing in the Brunache murder case until October 3.
Franky Brunache, who was a suspect in the “Octopus” case involving the buying and selling of votes among inmates at the Pointe Blanche prison during the 2014 parliamentary election, was murdered in Hope Estate on January 24, 2017.
Two brothers, H.H.M. (23) and H.F.M. (27), are suspected of involvement in the killing. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, witness statements, video-camera images and forensic evidence consisting of traces of gunshots found in the alleged getaway car will be used as evidence against the two suspects.
The Prosecutor did not object to a postponement until October, with one restriction. He said the two brothers are also suspected of the double homicide in Sucker Garden on January 6, 2017.
Taheba York (31) and his girlfriend Sabrena Martes (23) were both found dead in their vehicle shortly after the Emergency Dispatch 911 had received a call that a shooting had taken place in Sucker Garden.
According to the Prosecutor, the investigations in this case are still ongoing. However, it emerged that the same weapons with which York and Martes were killed were also used in the Brunache murder.
In case the brothers are also to be charged with involvement in the Sucker Garden killings, the Prosecutor said he wants to handle this case together with the Brunache murder in one criminal hearing.
The brothers, whose hands were handcuffed, were escorted from Pointe Blanche prison by members of the Arrest Team. Their pro-forma hearing started some 30 minutes late due to traffic congestion on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard because of ongoing roadworks.
