Grenadian serial killer Kathron “Kuchi” Fortune to be extradited to Guadeloupe for murder trial

The Dutch Supreme Court has approved the extradition of Kathron “Kuchi” Fortune, a notorious serial killer from Grenada, to Guadeloupe for a retrial related to his involvement in several violent crimes. Fortune, who has operated in the Caribbean, particularly in Sint Maarten, is infamous for his brutal killings, including the 2006 rape and murder of French woman Angélique Chauviré. The court’s ruling paves the way for him to face justice in Guadeloupe, where he was previously convicted in absentia for Chauviré’s murder and other crimes committed on the French side of St. Martin.

Fortune has a lengthy criminal record, with numerous convictions spanning several decades. His criminal career began in 1989, when, at the age of 22, he was sentenced to three years in prison for a violent robbery at a jewelry store in St. Maarten. In 2001, he received an eight-year sentence for violent extortion, a crime he has denied committing.

In 2007, Fortune was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the 2006 murder of Ervin Margerita in St. Maarten. However, his legal troubles didn’t end there. While serving his sentence for Margerita’s murder, Fortune escaped custody during a doctor’s visit in February 2016. He remained on the run until his capture in St. Kitts in July 2017, after which he was returned to Pointe Blanche prison.

When Hurricane Irma severely damaged the St. Maarten prison in 2017, Fortune was transferred to the Netherlands, where he has since been held in maximum-security prisons for his safety. He is currently incarcerated in Sittard, under stringent security measures.

For years, the Netherlands had resisted extraditing Fortune, citing his violent history and dangerous nature. However, the Dutch Supreme Court recently reversed this stance, granting approval for his extradition under strict security measures to ensure his safe transfer.

Upon arriving in Guadeloupe, Fortune will face a retrial at the Basse-Terre Assize Court for the murders committed in 2005 and 2006. His extradition marks the conclusion of years of complex legal proceedings across multiple jurisdictions, highlighting the challenges of international crime and justice.