Trial for Murder of Gallerist Sikkema in Brazil Has Defense Says Daniel Asked of Money Later

Trial for Murder of Gallerist Sikkema in Brazil Has Defense Says Daniel Asked of Money Later by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 12  – Daniel Sikkema has been subject to an Interpol warrant for the murder of his estanged husband, art gallery owner Brent Sikkema, in Brazil. On March 20 Daniel Sikkema was brought by US Marshals into the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court, with detention sought for passport fraud. Inner City Press was the only media there and live tweeted, thread He was released - but on March 27 asked for a delay in putting up the Queens house: we have "identified a substitute property located in Manhattan to secure Mr. Sikkema’s bond, as the home we initially intended to post is unavailable." Letter on Patreon here. On April 12, Daniel Sikkema was formally indicted. Patreon here On December 18, a trial date was picked, and Inner City Press was there, the only media in the courtroom. From the thread: All rise! Judge: I recently denied defendant's motions. Let's set a trial date. AUSA: April 21? Judge: I'm told there's a large jury selection here thay day [US v Eric Adams]. So the 22nd Story later Addendum: Just after "Adjourned," Judge Ramos genially asked Inner City Press, What's the big trial here on April 21? "Eric Adams." Well, not anymore. And on February 11, a superseding indictment of Sikkema, including murder for hire charges. Inner City Press was in the Magistrates Court when he was remanded into detention. On April 20, the 92 page deposition of Dailyn Hidaldo Hermandez was docketed, with designation for the prosecution and defense. On April 24 the US Attorney's Office filed objections, to a question about the right to counsel (declining to concede the US Constitution's right to counsel applies in Spain), and saying security work Prevez performed in Cuba was beyond the scope of the direct. On May 1 Sikkema's counsel replied that the witness may have been intimidated, and that Judge Ramos would have been free to allow cross beyond the scope of direct, under FRE 611(b). On May 12 the trial began, in large courtroom 318 with more than a dozen SDNY prosecutors on one side of the gallery, a mostly art crowd on the other. Defense counsel said, You will hear crazy things in this case. But Daniel was going to do quite well in the divorce. He didn't know how well before the murder." He said there will not be a shred of evidence that Daniel knew, so what he asked after the murder doesn't go to motive. When the defense opening argument ended, and before the first witness (retired pharmacist and family friend Angela Liriano), the other AUSAs left, with jurors looking after them. Inner City Press hopes for trial live-tweets - watch @InnerCityPress More May 12 details on X for Subscribers here and Substack here  The case is USA v. Sikkema, 1:24-cr-227 (Ramos) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2024 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com