'Justice was done, but the pain remains', says Brent Sikkema's friend about the gallerist's ex's sentence to life in prison

A friend of gallerist Brent Sikkema, killed in Rio de Janeiro at the behest of her ex-husband Daniel Sikkema, declared that she felt relieved with the conviction of the culprit, his ex-husband, to life in prison. The sentence was announced on Wednesday (4) by the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York.

Simone Nunes said that Daniel's conviction represents a response to the seriousness of the crime, but is unable to alleviate the pain of loss. In a message after the sentence, she revealed that the feeling of justice coexists with the sadness of loss.

"Today, faced with the life sentence imposed on the person responsible for the death of such a wonderful friend, my heart is divided between the feeling of justice and a sadness that will never disappear. No sentence will be able to restore the life of someone so special, to erase the pain of his absence or to fill the void that his departure left", he declared.

The friend highlighted the friendship she had for Brent and everything he represented:

"He was an extraordinary human being, generous, loving and always willing to help others. His kindness, his joy and his care for people left deep marks on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him."

In the end, she said she hoped the sentence would bring some comfort to the people who loved Brent and stressed that his memory will continue to be preserved.

"Justice was served, but the pain remains. Life imprisonment represents a response to the seriousness of the crime, but it does not return the interrupted dreams, the moments we will not live and the hug we will never be able to receive again. May this sentence bring some comfort to those who loved him and may his memory always be honored", he declared.

Daniel Sikkema, ex-husband of American gallerist Brent Sikkema, was sentenced to life in prison in the United States for planning and paying for the murder of the art dealer, stabbed to death in January 2024, in Jardim Botânico, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Daniel, 56, had been found guilty in May this year of the crimes of contract murder, conspiracy to commit contract murder and conspiracy to commit a murder in another country. Daniel is currently detained in New York.

According to the indictment, Daniel hired Cuban Alejandro Triana Prevez — who is imprisoned in the Bangu Complex, and who will be tried in February 2027 for the crime — to kill Brent in the midst of a turbulent divorce process. The American court concluded that Daniel planned and financed the crime.

According to the United States Attorney's Office, Daniel began arranging the murder with Prevez in 2023. To finance the plan, he made 11 payments to himself and a person with whom Prevez had a relationship in Cuba.

According to the accusation, Daniel used the names of friends, employees and relatives, without their knowledge, to hide the origin of the payments.

Brent Sikkema, 75, was a prominent New York gallerist and founder of the Sikkema Jenkins gallery, known for representing artists such as Vik Muniz and Kara Walker. He used to stay in a residence he had in Rio.

Brent was murdered at home on January 14, 2024. According to the accusation filed in the United States, Prevez stabbed the gallery owner 18 times.

The American prosecutor's office stated that, minutes after the crime, Prevez called Daniel several times through a secret number they used to communicate about the plan.

Shortly after the murder, Daniel secretly sent $5,000 to Prevez, according to the indictment, and promised other payments.

Prevez was arrested by Brazilian police 4 days after the crime. The case against him is still ongoing in Brazilian justice.

In a statement previously cited by g1, Prevez stated that he received US$9,000 to commit the murder. Daniel's defense maintained during the trial in the United States that the payments referred to work carried out by Prevez.

Before the trial, the defense said that Daniel was innocent. After the verdict, his legal team did not say whether he would appeal.