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Amended today, 12:26
Three life sentences for the murder of Peter R. de Vries




The Public Prosecution Service has demanded life sentences in the highly secured court in Amsterdam-Osdorp against three suspects in the murder of crime journalist Peter R. de Vries. It concerns the shooter, the driver and the 'murder broker'. Prison sentences ranging from 3 to 21 years have been demanded against the six other suspects. The court will make its ruling in June.

The Public Prosecution Service already demanded a life sentence in 2022 against the suspected shooter Delano G. (24) and driver Kamil E. (37), but the trial had to be repeated, partly because the justice department had called a new witness and because a judge had gone abroad. has moved.

The third main suspect, Krystian M. (28), is seen as the murder broker. He is said to have linked the client and those who carried out the murder. "He expressly controlled the place and time of the attack. He must be held very seriously for this," says the Public Prosecution Service.

The moment when the public prosecutor, at the request of the court, unrecognizably on screen, demands a life sentence:

"This case concerns the irreversible fact that these suspects robbed Peter R. de Vries of his life and caused untold grief to the surviving relatives," the public prosecutor explained. "With the murder of Peter R. de Vries, the suspects have caused irreparable suffering and caused an unprecedented shock in society."

The six other suspects are said to have been aware of the murder, who helped prepare it or filmed the seriously injured De Vries immediately after the attack.

These images have been distributed via social media, according to the Public Prosecution Service to sow as much fear as possible among the population. The Public Prosecution Service sees the images as part of the murder plot. The fact that there are suspects who say that they did not know who De Vries was does not make the murder any less serious, according to the Public Prosecution Service.

Konrad W. (31) heard a 17-year prison sentence demanded against him. The fact that he withdrew as a shooter is not a reason for the Public Prosecution Service to reduce his sentence. If it is up to the Public Prosecution Service, Gerower M. (27) and Erickson O. (29) will have to spend 21 years in prison. They are seen as preparers, spotters and filmers.

Not cooperating
According to the Public Prosecution Service, Ludgardo S. (35) knows who the victim was and he knew where and when the attack would take place. He did not want to cooperate with a probation report in this case. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Public Prosecution Service considers it proven that Divainy K. (30) participated in a criminal organization. He had an organizational role, says the public prosecutor. The sentence imposed on him was 8 years and 4 months.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, Christopher W. (28) also knew about the murder plans. He was arrested in another case and was in custody when De Vries was murdered. Only his imprisonment prevented him from participating in the murder plot, the Public Prosecution Service says. If it is up to the justice system, he should spend 3 years in prison.

In the explanation provided by the Public Prosecution Service, the public prosecutor explained whether there was a criminal organization that aims to commit crimes and terrorism. Because a video was distributed immediately after the attack, the Public Prosecution Service has always said that there was also a terrorist intent.

A criminal organization exists when at least two people participate in it. According to the public prosecutor, this has been proven. A crime with terrorist intent cannot be proven, because according to the Public Prosecution Service this can only be proven in the case of Krystian M.

Krystian M. expresses regret
Two days have been set aside to substantiate the punishment demands, yesterday was the first . Krystian M. was then the first suspect to make a statement. M. addressed De Vries' relatives yesterday. He said he forwarded messages under pressure.

"The sadness will not diminish for you, but I would like to say sorry for what happened," the Pole said in Dutch. He did not go into detail about the pressure, but spoke about "very intense things" that happened against him. were said. Further questions in court were not answered. The Public Prosecution Service today calls his statement "pre-conceived". "We cannot do anything with that at all."

The other suspects have so far remained silent in court. "They did not want to provide an explanation, they did not want to be held accountable. They made an indifferent and insensitive impression. A huge contrast with the grief of the relatives," says the public prosecutor.

Client
Crime reporter Peter R. de Vries (64) was shot in the center of Amsterdam on July 6, 2021. Shortly before, De Vries was in a broadcast of RTL Boulevard and was on his way to his car.

He died nine days later . Less than an hour after the attack, Delano G. (23) and Kamil E. (36) were arrested. G. is said to have killed De Vries, E. is said to have driven the getaway car.

It has never become clear why the murder was committed. De Vries was a confidante of the key witness in the Marengo trial. The Public Prosecution Service says that it has been convincingly demonstrated that the murder was related to his role as a confidential counselor. According to the Public Prosecution Service, there is a series of murders. The lawyer and brother of the key witness were previously murdered.

The main suspect in that case is drug criminal Ridouan Taghi. He is not a suspect in this case, but the Public Prosecution Service takes into account that he is the client. Taghi has always denied this.