By Today Newspaper
GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten – The Court in First Instance moved the trial against Stedson Malcolm J. yesterday to February 10, 2016. The 23-year old defendant is a suspect in the shooting of Donovan McCardy on August 16 of this year.
The 45-year old victim dragged himself to the police station on the evening of the shooting. He arrived there shortly after 8 p.m. with six gunshot wounds. The shooting took place close to Klass electronics on Front Street. McCardy, a mechanic at a garage across from the ice cream parlor Carousel in Simpson Bay, survived the shooting and J. is now charged with attempted manslaughter.
Attorney Shamira Roseburg asked the court to terminate or suspend her client’s pre-trial detention, but prosecutor Gonda van der Wulp objected and Judge Rick Smid agreed.
A police officer who is a cousin of the suspect had recognized him from video footage, judge Smid pointed out.
In 2011, Stedson J. was sentenced to 6 years for armed robberies he committed on May 31, and June 5, 7 and 9 in 2011. In 2008, J. was at the age of 16 also sentenced for an armed robbery for which he was sent to the GOG (Government Education Facility) and to the rehab clinic Brasami in Curacao.
At the GOG, J. smoked twenty joints a day and he ran away from both institutions. A psychological evaluation showed that he has an anti-social behavior disorder.
