ORANJESTAD (AAN) – During the ongoing Aruba Police Court Case, defense attorneys Mr. Illes and Mr. Carlo argued before the Court that the two police officers involved should not be punished because they acted within their duties.
Mr. Illes stated that this case has no winners, only varying degrees of loss. He expressed condolences to the victim’s family, emphasizing that officers M.V. and R.R.G.D. never intended for the incident to end tragically.
According to the defense, the situation escalated on the night of February 9, 2025, after the victim allegedly fled from police despite clear signals to stop. Officers reportedly used patrol lights and repeatedly ordered the driver to stop through a microphone. The defense argued that by refusing to comply, the driver created suspicion and escalated the situation.
The chase continued into Madiki Kavel. Mr. Illes argued that at one point, the vehicle accelerated toward officer M.V., creating what he described as a life-threatening situation. Although the judge questioned whether the vehicle was moving at high speed, the defense maintained that M.V. reasonably perceived a direct threat.
Mr. Carlo highlighted that the officers had been working double shifts that day and had already handled multiple serious incidents, including joyriding, public disturbances, and a shooting case. He emphasized that the officers were in constant communication with police dispatch and even requested reinforcement. According to seven officers, dispatch instructed them to stop the chase only if traffic was endangered.
The defense further questioned the LandsRecherche report, stating that it failed to clearly establish the exact timing of the shots fired.
Lawyers argued that the officers discharged their weapons in self-defense after the vehicle allegedly drove toward M.V. They maintained that their intention was to stop the vehicle, not to kill the driver. Referring to a ruling from The Hague, the defense argued that police officers are legally permitted to use firearms to stop a vehicle when facing a serious threat.In the Aruba Police Court Case, the defense concluded that the officers acted lawfully and that the civil damage claim should be declared inadmissible.
