The ex-hooker accused of hiring a hitman to kill his estranged rich Manhattan art-dealer husband was convicted Friday for the cold-blooded slaying that left the sufferer viciously stabbed almost two dozen instances.
A federal jury took simply two hours to search out Daniel Sikkema responsible of conspiring to kill hubby Brent Sikkema, 77, after secretly shelling out 1000’s to a Cuban nationwide who carried out the grisly homicide plot on the outstanding artwork supplier’s Brazilian trip house in January 2024.
“The tragedy of Brent Sikkema’s loss of life now has a significant measure of justice as a unanimous jury of New Yorkers has held Daniel Sikkema accountable for this mindless, cold-blooded homicide,” Jay Clayton, US Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, mentioned in an announcement.
Prosecutors argued that Daniel Sikkema, in his mid-50s, was broke and plotted the twisted murder-for-hire scheme in a determined bid for money, whereas locked in a bitter divorce and custody struggle over their younger son.
Jurors heard how Daniel Sikkema employed Alejandro Triana Prevez — the couple’s former safety guard — and secretly funneled about $9,000 to him earlier than and after he snuck into his estranged husband’s Rio de Janeiro bed room and stabbed him 18 instances within the face, chest and throat.
Protection lawyer Richard Levitt didn’t dispute that Prevez killed the sufferer, however insisted his consumer’s funds to the alleged hitman had been repaying a debt – and that he would by no means have needed the daddy of their son useless.
“Does that sound just like the work of an murderer to you,” Levitt advised jurors of the knifing throughout closing arguments Friday, including that Prevez “desperately needed cash” to purchase a home in Spain for his paramour.
“If anybody had motive to kill Brent (Sikkema) it was Alejandro (Prevez). Alejandro took no matter money was there.”
He careworn that Prevez allegedly texted his girlfriend that “she’ll be capable to purchase her dream home” after the killing, and scoffed that the $5,000 Daniel Sikkema transferred earlier than the homicide would by no means quantity to fee for “a deliberate hit.”
Prosecutors argued the suspect’s warped plot was fueled by cash woes – he was so broke he borrowed $13,000 from the couple’s housekeeper, whom he allegedly stiffed whereas quietly paying his alleged hitman.
In the course of the trial, prosecutors quoted a collection of voice notes they mentioned Daniel Sikkema despatched to pals and family members throughout the couple’s divorce.
“It received’t be over till this man passes away,” he mentioned in one of many recordings.
The suspect mentioned in one other, “I’m nonetheless preventing with this previous bastard who received’t die,” in accordance with the prosecutor.
The trial’s first witness, household buddy Angela Liriano, testified that Daniel Sikkema repeatedly complained about cash throughout the divorce.
She additionally recalled a chilling cellphone dialog she had with him whereas at work.
“I advised him, ‘Brent was simply right here. He advised me he was going to Brazil.’ [Daniel] mentioned he wished [Brent] will die,” Liriano mentioned. “I used to be in shock.”
The jury discovered him responsible of murder-for-hire conspiracy leading to loss of life, murder-for-hire leading to loss of life, and conspiracy to homicide or maim an individual in another country.
