Local News
Three men sentenced to 12 years each for fatal Gentlemen's Club shooting in Defiance
The Court of Appeal sentenced D.S.M., A.M.E.C. and A.A.A.C. to 12 years each for co-perpetration of manslaughter and illegal firearm possession in the April 2025 shooting outside the Gentlemen's Club in Defiance.
By SXM Daily ยท
Reported 21 October 2026
The Court of Appeal sentenced all three defendants in the fatal shooting outside the Gentlemen's Club in Defiance to 12 years in prison each, for co-perpetration of manslaughter and illegal firearm possession, the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) said in a release dated October 21, 2026. The Court gave its judgment on October 19, 2026. Time spent in pre-trial detention will be deducted.
The ruling
The OM identifies the defendants by their initials: D.S.M., A.M.E.C. and A.A.A.C. The shooting took place on April 13, 2025. According to the OM, the Court found that all three fired toward the victim within about 30 seconds, acting in close and coordinated cooperation. It could not establish which shot caused the death, but found that each made a significant contribution. It rejected their self-defence arguments.
The first ruling
The Court of First Instance had sentenced two of the defendants to eight years each for attempted manslaughter and illegal firearm possession, and the third to three years for illegal firearm possession.
Sources
- Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) release, October 21, 2026: https://www.openbaarministerie.org/three-men-sentenced-to-12-years-each-for-fatal-gentlemens-club-shooting