Criminal Assize Session Without Jury Opens in Miragoâne

A special criminal assize session without a jury opened this Monday, July 7, at the Court of First Instance of Miragoâne, in the Nippes department. It will run until August 14, announced the court's dean, Me Gérald Nertilus.

More than twenty cases will be judged there, including cases of criminal association, theft and burglary, rape, as well as attempted murder.

For the first day, the court heard Saluna Guerrier and Stéphanie Sterling, accused of criminal association due to their alleged connection with members of the Martissant gang. As the public prosecutor could not provide adequate evidence of their involvement in gang activities, they were released.

A decision by the court that was welcomed by the defense lawyers, including the president of the Miragoâne Bar Association, Me Rodrice Durocher, who described it as just and in accordance with the respect for fundamental rights.

Saluna Guerrier (20) and Stéphanie Sterling (21) had been arrested in February 2025 by the SDPJ of Nippes. They were suspected of regularly frequenting the Village-de-Dieu neighborhood, controlled by gang leader Johnson André, alias Izo 5 Secondes.

Jean Mapou