“Cowardly and Unscrupulous Act”
KRALENDIJK – The Prosecution has demanded a 28-year prison sentence for Anthony W. for the murder of Saban firefighter Sheldon Johnson. A 21-year prison sentence was demanded for co-suspect Rudolfo van H. on charges of complicity.
Johnson was ambushed and shot to death on September 12, 2025. After the victim fell, the gunman reportedly fired again. Johnson’s partner, Carty, was also shot at. Because of this, the suspects are being prosecuted for murder and attempted manslaughter. W. is additionally suspected of possessing over two kilos of cocaine.
Months of Preparation
According to the Prosecution, the investigation points to a disturbing scenario where W. and Van H. had been preparing to murder the Saban firefighter for months before the fatal attack. The prosecutor described the murder as a “cowardly and unscrupulous act” and emphasized that murder is the most serious crime a person can commit.
The case has caused a lot of emotional distress on Saba. Extra security measures were taken during the court hearing, and residents of Saba and Sint Maarten followed the proceedings via a video link.
Evidence
During the hearing, the Prosecution presented various pieces of evidence, including recovered security camera footage, DNA traces on clothing found in a hidden backpack, and gunshot residue on the hands of both suspects. The prosecution also referred to recorded conversations between the suspects.
Another striking element in the investigation is that W. consulted ChatGPT about various murder-related scenarios a few months before the crime. Van H., on his part, used ChatGPT for questions about immigrating to Canada, among other things. The Prosecution considers this to be one of the pieces of evidence included in the case file.
‘I Am Innocent’
Both suspects continue to deny that they were involved in the murder. Their defense attorney argued for a full acquittal, stating that it cannot be determined with certainty who fired the fatal shots.
Restitution of $27,933 was requested for Johnson’s relatives, while another $27,933 was requested for his partner, Carty. However, the Prosecution asked the court to declare these claims inadmissible. According to the Prosecution, the claims involve emotional distress damage for next of kin, a form of compensation that the Prosecution states is not included in Bonaire’s laws.
The court will rule on the case on June 25.
