Three men have been found guilty of murder in a Dutch court for their involvement in the shooting of investigative journalist Peter R. de Vries in a daring attack that took place in downtown Amsterdam in 2021. The incident sent shockwaves through the Netherlands.
Three individuals involved in the killing have been found guilty and convicted. The shooter and getaway driver received a sentence of 28 years, while the organizer of the attack was sentenced to 26 years and one month for their direct involvement in the crime.
According to Amsterdam District Court’s presiding Judge Gert Oldekamp, the trio displayed “unprecedented ruthlessness and unscrupulousness” in their actions. The recklessness they exhibited is evidence that they have no regard for human life.
On a bustling Amsterdam street, De Vries was shot on July 5, 2021, and tragically passed away from his injuries nine days later at the age of 64.
According to Annemiek van Spanje, the lawyer representing de Vries’ family, while they are content with the ruling, they understand that it does not change the fact that their father cannot be brought back.
Nine men were charged in relation to the murder, and three of them were found guilty of complicity. The sentences given to the convicted men ranged from 10 to 14 years. One of the men was convicted of drug possession but was cleared of any involvement in the murder. He was sentenced to four weeks.
The judges acquitted two of the accused as they were only charged with involvement in a criminal organization, and the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the existence of such an organization.
Justine Asbroek, the spokesperson for the prosecution, expressed her satisfaction with the convictions.
Speaking to reporters at the courthouse, she expressed her relief that the criminal case had come to an end, at least for the time being. She conveyed her happiness for the family that they finally have clarity about those involved in the murder.
To comply with Dutch privacy regulations, the authorities did not disclose the complete names of the suspects.
The gunman, getaway driver, and organizer of the killing were all sought by prosecutors to receive life sentences, while the remaining six suspects in the case were facing sentences ranging from three to 21 years.
The court ruled that the sentences were shorter than what had been requested. The reason for this was that the prosecution failed to establish that the suspects were a part of any criminal organization or that their actions were driven by any terrorist motives.
According to Asbroek, it is probable that the prosecutors will challenge that specific part of the verdicts on appeal.
The killing of de Vries elicited strong emotions of indignation, sorrow, and fury across the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands labeled the assault on de Vries as “an assault on press freedom, which is the bedrock of our democracy and consequently an attack on the legal system.”
According to Oldekamp, the Netherlands was deeply shaken by the murder, which had a profound impact on the community.
As the trial of the purported leader and associates of a criminal gang progressed, De Vries played a crucial role in guiding and supporting a safeguarded witness. Tragically, both the witness’ attorney and sibling were killed during this time, further underscoring the dangers involved in such high-profile cases.
In February, Ridouan Taghi, the leader of the group, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in five gangland murders. The judges referred to him as the “undisputed leader” of a “murder organization.”
Currently, Taghi has not faced any charges related to the assassination of de Vries, and the prosecutors have not accused any suspects of ordering de Vries’ murder.
Oldekamp clarified that the criminal case did not involve assessing Taghi’s involvement in the murder of Peter de Vries or his intentions.
Van Spanje, the lawyer representing the de Vries family, expressed disappointment earlier this year that no one was being tried for the murder’s orchestration.
In an interview with The Associated Press, she expressed her concern about the unknown identity of the person who ordered the killing, which inevitably casts a dark cloud over the ongoing trial.
Less than an hour after the attack, authorities apprehended the shooter and his accomplice, a Polish man known as Kamil E., who acted as the getaway driver. The weapon used to shoot de Vries was discovered in their vehicle, according to prosecutors who presented this evidence in Amsterdam District Court.
