In the Court of First Instance, a judge presided over the criminal case brought by the Public Prosecutor’s Office against A.R. (29), accused of attempted murder and aggravated assault.
It was revealed during the hearing that the Prosecutor noted A.R. had only recently been released on parole from KIA (Aruba’s correctional facility) for a similar offense, where he had served part of a 10-year sentence. Despite this, he committed the same act again. Taking into account reports from a psychiatrist and a psychologist, which indicate that A.R. suffers from paranoia and requires specialized care, the Prosecutor demanded a sentence of 6 years in prison along with mandatory psychiatric treatment.
The charges stem from an incident on August 12, 2025, involving a victim identified as v.d.B. A.R. is accused of stabbing v.d.B. multiple times with a knife.
THE ACCUSED ADMITTED THE FACTS A.R. admitted to the stabbing but claimed it was a reaction to repeated threats. According to A.R., v.d.B. had been driving past his house for three days, threatening to kill him. However, police reports state that A.R. was in a septic truck with his brother when he jumped out to attack v.d.B., who was standing by a car talking to a woman. A.R. claimed v.d.B. made a threatening gesture toward him, but his own brother testified that A.R. had demanded he stop the truck, threatening to jump out while it was moving if he didn’t.
Security footage presented in court showed A.R. approaching v.d.B. aggressively. While A.R. claimed he saw v.d.B. reach behind his back as if for a weapon, the Judge noted that the victim was shirtless and clearly unarmed. The footage showed A.R. stabbing the victim eight times in various parts of the body, including the head and shoulder.
A REPEAT OFFENDER WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES The court emphasized the gravity of the situation: A.R. had been out of prison for only two weeks after serving six years of a ten-year sentence for a previous attempted murder.
Expert evaluations describe A.R. as suffering from serious mental health issues, specifically paranoia, which limits his ability to process threats rationally. This led experts to conclude he is “diminished responsible” for his actions. Furthermore, A.R. admitted to ongoing drug use, specifically marijuana, which he does not view as a problem.
THE DEMAND The Prosecutor argued that A.R. acted with premeditation, citing messages sent to the victim and the ex-girlfriend stating that v.d.B. “would not escape.” Due to the high risk of recidivism and the severity of the victim’s injuries (including a collapsed lung), the Prosecutor demanded 6 years of imprisonment and mandatory treatment (TBS).
The defense attorney, Mr. D. Croes, argued that the paranoia played a central role and that A.R. stopped the attack only when he saw the victim’s child. The Judge will issue a verdict on June 12, 2026.
