Daniel García Carrera, also known as Daniel Sikkema, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, maintaining a stoic demeanor as prosecutors presented the jury with graphic images of his husband, prominent art dealer Brent Sikkema, who was fatally stabbed in January 2024 in Rio de Janeiro.
According to The New York Post, the 55-year-old Cuban native, residing in New York, is facing charges of conspiracy and murder-for-hire. Prosecutors allege that he hired fellow Cuban Alejandro Triana Prevez to infiltrate Brent Sikkema's apartment and kill him amid a bitter divorce and custody battle over their child.
Chilling Details of the Murder
Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Pavlis, in his opening statement, described how Triana, a former bodyguard of the victim, surveilled the premises for 14 hours before entering at 3:43 a.m. on January 14, 2024, and stabbing the gallery owner 18 times in the face, neck, and chest.
"In 2024, Brent Sikkema was savagely murdered. A hitman snuck into his home in Brazil, wielding a knife, and stabbed Brent repeatedly," Pavlis told the jury.
The indictment claims that after committing the crime, Triana immediately contacted Daniel Sikkema. "Who did he call? He called this man, Daniel Sikkema, the man who hired him and paid him to kill Brent," the prosecutor stated.
Financial Motive Behind the Crime
Prosecutors argue that the motive was financial gain. Daniel believed he would gain more financially as a widower than through a divorce. "He didn't want a divorce. He wanted Brent dead," Pavlis asserted.
To facilitate payments to the hitman, the accused reportedly used a network of intermediaries, including a housekeeper, her daughter, an associate, and his own romantic partner. "The defendant paid the hitman every step of the way, payment after payment," the prosecutor highlighted.
Revealing Evidence and Testimonies
Prosecutors also unveiled voice recordings allegedly sent by Daniel Sikkema to friends and family during the separation process. In one recording, he stated, "It won't end until this man is dead." In another, he lamented, "I'm still fighting with this old bastard who refuses to die."
The trial's first witness, Angela Liriano, a family friend, testified that Daniel frequently complained about money. "He said he felt he wasn't getting enough. 'Six million isn't enough, I want eight million,'" Liriano recounted.
Liriano also described a disturbing phone conversation: "I told him, 'Brent was here. He said he was going to Brazil.' [Daniel] said he wished [Brent] would die. I was shocked."
Capture and Legal Proceedings
Triana was apprehended three days after the murder at a gas station in the state of Minas Gerais, carrying $3,000, and confessed to the crime. Brazilian authorities issued an arrest warrant for Daniel Sikkema in February 2024, alongside an Interpol alert.
The U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Daniel Sikkema in February 2025 in the Southern District of New York.
Defense attorney Florian Miedel acknowledged that Triana stabbed Brent 18 times but denied any direct connection to his client. "Daniel did not hire Alejandro to kill Brent. No one will come into this room and say Daniel did," Miedel argued.
If found guilty, Daniel García Carrera faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty.
FAQs About the New York Trial of Daniel García Carrera
What charges is Daniel García Carrera facing?
Daniel García Carrera is facing charges of conspiracy and murder-for-hire related to the death of his husband, Brent Sikkema.
What is the alleged motive behind the crime?
Prosecutors allege that the motive was financial, as Daniel believed he would gain more money as a widower than through a divorce.
Who carried out the murder?
The murder was allegedly carried out by Alejandro Triana Prevez, a former bodyguard of the victim, who was hired by Daniel García Carrera.