Estranged husband convicted of murder-for-hire in killing of New York City art dealer in Brazil - BERITAJA

The estranged hubby of a salient New York City creation trader was convicted Friday of hiring a hitman to termination him successful Brazil.

Daniel Sikkema, 55, faces a mandatory condemnation of life successful prison. Brent Sikkema, 75, was recovered stabbed to decease successful his Rio de Janeiro townhouse successful January 2024.

Daniel Sikkema, a U.S. and Cuban national who lived successful New York, was arrested successful April 2024. He was convicted successful national tribunal successful Manhattan of charges including murder-for-hire conspiracy resulting successful death.

The alleged hitman was arrested successful Brazil, wherever he remains jailed.

“Amid contentious divorcement proceedings pinch his then-husband, Daniel Sikkema utilized a burner telephone statement to callously bid the sidesplitting of his husband,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said.

Brent Sikkema successful New York City successful 2007.Will Ragozzino / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Clayton described Brent Sikkema’s sidesplitting arsenic a “senseless, cold-blooded murder” and said the verdict brings a “meaningful measurement of justice.”

Daniel Sikkema’s lawyer, Florian Miedel, said they were disappointed successful the verdict and scheme to appeal.

“Daniel is staying beardown and hopes to beryllium vindicated successful the end,” Miedel said.

Brent Sikkema had amassed a multimillion-dollar property and owned a Manhattan modern creation assemblage that became Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, which says connected its website that it has represented world artists for illustration Kara Walker, Vik Muniz and Arturo Herrera for about 30 years.

Daniel Sikkema was successful predominant interaction pinch the alleged hitman earlier and aft the killing, prosecutors said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Pavlis told the assemblage successful an opening connection that Daniel Sikkema had funneled complete $10,000 to the man and promised him much money.

At the aforesaid time, Pavlis said, Daniel Sikkema bragged to others that he was going to get much money from his spouse’s decease than he would person gotten from a divorce. He and Brent Sikkema had a teenage son.

“After his hubby was brutally killed, the suspect tried to screen his tracks and rate in,” Pavlis said.

Miedel told the assemblage successful an opening connection that lawsuit was built connected circumstantial grounds and that location was nary grounds to beryllium the guilt of his client.

“Life is messy. The truth is not ever obvious,” Miedel said.