On Thursday afternoon, the Higher Court of Justice, via video conference, delivered its verdict in the criminal case against Izak Principaal. Present in the courtroom were the father and brother of Sayuri Petronia, other family members, as well as Principaal’s mother and sister.
The court found Izak Principaal guilty of fatally shooting Sayuri Petronia on June 4, 2021. He was also convicted of participating in an armed robbery, during which he used a knife to steal a vehicle, and of involvement—together with another suspect—in a drive-by shooting in San Nicolas, where several people were injured.
Serious Crimes and Anti-Social Behavior
The court emphasized that Principaal committed three extremely serious crimes. Psychological and psychiatric evaluations showed that his anti-social behavior had worsened over the years, and experts concluded that he suffers from significant personality disorders. While the court acknowledged that this reduced his level of responsibility, it ruled that juvenile sentencing was inappropriate, despite Principaal being 17 years old at the time of the crimes.
Adult Sentence and Mandatory Treatment
The Prosecutor General argued that Principaal should be treated as an adult, based on consistent evaluations from psychologists and psychiatrists since 2022. The court agreed, stating that imprisonment alone would not be sufficient to prevent future violent behavior.
Due to the lack of appropriate psychiatric treatment facilities in Aruba, the court ordered that Principaal undergo psychiatric treatment in the Netherlands. If he refuses treatment voluntarily, it will become mandatory and may take place in a secured psychiatric institution. Dutch authorities have already been consulted regarding this process.
Final Sentence
The court sentenced Izak Principaal to six years in prison, with credit for time already served at KIA (Aruba Correctional Institution), followed by mandatory psychiatric treatment in the Netherlands. He must comply with instructions from probation services and mental health professionals.
Additionally, the court ordered financial compensation:
- AWG 16,000 to the family of Sayuri Petronia
- AWG 4,000 to the victim of the armed robbery
Failure to pay could result in additional detention.
As the verdict was read, Sayuri’s father was visibly emotional, underscoring the lasting impact of the crime. Sayuri, whose life was taken at a young age, continues to be remembered by her family and friends.
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