Philipsburg/ Saba: --- Search and rescue teams were busy searching the waters between St. Maarten and Saba for a helicopter that went down on Tuesday night. On board the helicopter was Inspector of Police Alfred "Churchill" Marsdin was on board with a pilot only known as Michael.
Head of St. Maarten Sea Rescue Bobby Velasquez in an invited comment said that the helicopter went down some 12 miles outside of St. Maarten on its way to Saba while on its way to pick up a patient. Velasquez said it has been confirmed that the police inspector Alfred Churchill Marsdin along with the pilot was on board since airport security confirmed they dropped the two men off to the helicopter prior to its taking off. Velázquez said that the two men that were on board are dead and that the search has officially been called off. The search team he said found some debris which includes the eprem, a seat and some body parts.
Velasquez said that the crew were scheduled to make two flights to Saba last night, on the first trip they were to pick up a patient while on the second trip was for the families of the sick; however, the helicopter did not make it to its destination.
Acting Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek said that they are busy compiling the information on the case. He said the police is busy with the investigation to determine the cause of the accident and an analysis of the debris would have to be conducted prior to him being able to make a statement.
At a press conference held at the Philipsburg Police Station yesterday afternoon Panneflek said "Late last evening, an incident took place involving a helicopter flying from Sint Maarten to the island of Saba. The flight was being executed to transport a very ill person back to Sint Maarten for urgent medical attention.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the helicopter on its way to Saba did not make it to its destination and that the helicopter went down at sea.
Information gathered also indicate that the customary pilot of the helicopter Mr. Michael HUTTENLOCKER better known as "Mike" from the United States of America along with a police colleague, Alfred Ricardo MARSDIN, better known as "Churchill", accompanied the pilot on this flight.
This incident was called in to the Central Police Dispatch at around 10.45 p.m. on Tuesday night.
The Coast Guard of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, section St. Maarten was immediately notified of the incident and dispatched a "Super Rhib" to the scene in order to investigate the matter.
The Coast Guard of Fort de France Martinique who is in charge of search and rescue in the Eastern Caribbean coordinated a search with the Antillean Coast Guard, St Maarten Sea rescue and other voluntary entities in the area where the helicopter is believed to have gone down.
As a result of this search pieces of material, carpeting, chairs and life vests supposedly belonging to the downed helicopter were found. These items were all confiscated in connection with this search. The search has however at this point did not produced any bodies.
The competent authorities have already been briefed of the situation and the relevant findings. The investigation is still ongoing and at this time and I cannot confirm the death of Mike the pilot and or "Churchill MARSDIN.
Information in connection with this incident is still been gathered and as soon as this becomes available it will be provided to the media.
The Windward Island Police Corps management is conveying its solidarity and sympathy to all members of the Windward Islands Police Corps, on the occasion of the tragic and untimely developments transpiring over the past 24 hours.
Pending completion of investigations, the police management expresses the hope that it will very soon be in a position to confirm or dismiss reports that our colleague, police inspector Mr. Churchill Marsdin, may not have survived the incident in question.
The police management is joined by the Local Chief of Police, Franklyn Richards in conveying a message of strength and comfort, to all members of the police force, at this time of sadness.
The entire police organization wishes to convey to the family and relatives of inspector Marsdin that thoughts and prayers are with them.
The accident in question has the full attention of the police organization.
A full briefing was provided to Local Chief of Police, Governor Franklyn Richards, Leader of Government, Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, the Minister of Justice, the Attorney general and the Public Prosecutor on Wednesday afternoon by my person as acting chief of the police corps and police spokesman Johan Leonard.
Also present to provide information was head of the Coast Guard, Hubert Ogenia."
The above is the full prepared statement that Panneflek read to members of the media.
Shortly after leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams along Panneflek and other members of the Police Core paid an official visit to the family to update them of the developments. Obviously shaken is the wife of Churchill Marsdin who listened keenly as to what Acting Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek had to say.
The home of Churchill Marsdin was indeed a place of sorrow as several persons from the community gathered at the home as they await the news. There was tears flowing from the eyes of several persons who sat and wait.
SMN News have been reliably informed that the accident on Tuesday night was an accident waiting to happen since it was already known that some vital part of the aircraft was not functioning. This information SMN News understands was widely discussed during the course of yesterday, one of the many reasons why Civil Aviation has to now conduct an investigation on the accident.
Bada Bing owner Speaks Out
The owner of Bada Bing exotic club Jaap Van der Huvel was an angry man yesterday. Van der Huvel was also very emotional when he expressed himself at the news of what had happened to Churchill Marsdin. Churchill Marsdin was due to appear in court for the second time by the end of this year as prosecutors charge him with forgery. That forgery directly involved Bada Bing owner since it is alleged that Marsdin stamped some passports for dancers who were already on the island.
"A former Prosecutor who does not deserve to live on this island has made the life of Marsdin living hell, simply because Marsdin was not afraid to speak about the Dutch and their alleged corruption." That Prosecutor went after him and today the man is no longer here to hear what I had to say to the judge in the next hearing. "Can you imagine that same prosecutor told me I did not commit a crime but what I did was wrong because I tried to have women enter through the roof rather than through the foundation, I did give those people a check for my release but to date they did not cash the check and they know why" Van der Huvel said. Furthermore the said prosecutor who is now running his private business approached me telling me how what I needed to do to get women here. He even proposed to offer me his services the angry businessman said yesterday.
Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem said that the Public Prosecutor's Office wrongfully prosecuted Marsdin and that with the evidence they provide was not even sufficient to call the man a suspect. He said while the incident in itself is a tragic one, Marsdin was suffering deeply due to the fact he was being prosecuted. "Marsdin life was so severely impacted that he had to do alternative things to make monies and had he not been suspended then he would have been here today" Bloem said. It is already proven that Marsdin did not had any financial gains by stamping the passports of dancers and it is something other immigration heads have done over the years.
Bloem said that Marsdin was not only a client but instead a dear friend who had a passion for what he was doing. "In that same strength and light I was ready to defend Churchill and I know after hearing what the witnesses had to say would have shed a whole different light on the judicial system."
