PHILIPSBURG:-- The judge of instruction ordered the immediate release of Fernando van Heyningen who was arrested on August 29, 2017, as a suspect in the murder case that took place on January 6, 2017, which was 8 months prior to his arrest.
The Judge of Instruction ruled that the arrest was unlawful and considered that there is no reason or evidence in the file to substantiate his arrest. The Judge of Instruction also deemed the police custody and the extension thereof unlawful. There isn't any evidence present or in other words, there isn't any suspicion of guilt to qualify Van Heyningen as a suspect, let alone to have detained him for 2 days and subsequently extend for 8 days.
The Judge of Instruction ordered the immediate release of Fernando van Heyningen for the mere fact that there's no evidence that Van Heyningen was involved in the fatal shooting on January 6, 2017.
Attorney Sjamira Roseburg argued successfully that Van Heyningen cannot be considered a suspect based on the documents presented to the court.
Having followed the attorney's plea and ruling in her favor, the Judge of Instruction ordered the immediate release.
