A man labelled a Caribbean serial killer in court has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the torture and murder of a woman in Guadeloupe, just days after receiving a life sentence for a double killing. Kathron 'Cuchi' Fortune, 47, was convicted in the Assize court in Basse-Terre for the death of Angélique Chauviré in 2006 on the island of Saint Martin.
On 25 September, Fortune was given a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years for the murders of Jomo Maynard and Gilbert Hyman, also in Saint Martin. The latest sentence requires him to serve at least 20 years before parole eligibility.
Lawyer Sandra Chirac-Kollarik, representing Chauviré's family, welcomed the verdict, citing the 'savagery' suffered by the 31-year-old victim. Maitre Karine Linon, for Hyman's family, noted the case's uniqueness, describing Fortune as a serial killer. Fortune had previously been convicted of three other murders on the Dutch side of Saint Martin.
Fortune, originally from Grenada, escaped custody in February 2016 during a doctor's visit. Later that year, he killed Luis Sarante Diaz and Edwin Rosario Contreras in a botched drug deal. He fled to Saint Kitts in July 2017 but was arrested and deported. After Hurricane Irma damaged Sint Maarten's prison, he was transferred to the Netherlands.
Guadeloupe's attorney general, Élodie Rouchouse, noted the case's complexity due to multiple jurisdictions, requiring five years of international cooperation. Fortune has maintained his innocence, telling the jury, 'I know the truth will come out but I cannot give you the truth because I don't know anything about it.' His lawyer has confirmed an appeal has been filed for both cases.
