Aruba Police Ayden Lanoy Shooting Case Sentence Update:
The Aruba Court has sentenced police officers Violenus and Dirksz to three years in prison for their involvement in the fatal shooting of Ayden Lanoy. This ruling comes after a detailed investigation into the case, known locally as the “Caret” case, which resulted in a 30-page judgment issued on Thursday afternoon.
The case centers around an incident that took place on February 9, 2025, during which the two officers fired approximately 20 shots at Ayden Lanoy, leading to his death. According to the court’s decision, both officers were found guilty of causing Lanoy’s death through excessive and unjustified use of force.
The sentence includes three years of imprisonment, with one year being conditional under a one-year probation period. This means that if the officers do not commit any further offenses during the probation period, they will not be required to serve the final year of their sentence. The court emphasized that its decision was based strictly on the evidence presented during the trial, and other accusations were not proven, resulting in acquittals on those charges.
The family of Ayden Lanoy reacted emotionally in the courtroom upon hearing the verdict. His parents and partner expressed deep disappointment, stating that the sentence was too lenient given the severity of the case. Family members attempted to console them, noting that the judge had imposed a stricter penalty than what the prosecution had initially requested.
Interestingly, the court rejected the prosecutor’s original demand, which called for a 12-month suspended sentence and 180 hours of community service. The judge ruled that such a penalty was insufficient considering the seriousness of the offense.
In addition to prison time, the officers were ordered to pay compensation totaling Afl. 39,170 to a victim affected by the incident. This includes Afl. 14,170 for material damages and Afl. 25,000 for personal suffering and emotional distress. They are also required to pay Afl. 6,000 in legal costs, with the possibility of additional expenses later. However, if another party contributes to the compensation, the officers will not be required to pay that portion again.
Not all claims made by other affected parties were accepted by the court. Some material damage claims were rejected, while claims related to emotional damage and psychological shock were not approved, though they may still be pursued through civil court proceedings.
The court concluded that the officers had misjudged the situation and used unnecessary force. Contrary to the officers’ claims that they were facing a dangerous situation, the court determined that Ayden Lanoy did not pose a threat to their safety.
Both parties now have 14 days to file an appeal against the ruling.
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