London – Almost a year after the Dutch investigative journalist Peter de Vries was killed in broad daylight in the center of Amsterdam in July 2021, the defendants began their trial, but did not claim responsibility despite the security camera footage that recorded the incident. crime.
Dutch rapper Delano Geerman, 22, and Polish mechanic Kamil Egiert, 36, allegedly acted on the orders of Ridouan Taghi, the country’s biggest drug dealer, who has been in jail since 2019 and is facing a string of lawsuits, according to police investigations.
In addition to running a program, de Vries consulted one of the prosecution’s witnesses against drug lord Nabil Bakkali, and that may have been the cause of the outrage. Taghi is also accused of killing Nabil’s lawyer and brother.
Suspect accused of killing Dutch journalist could face death
Peter de Vries, known for his investigative reporting on organized crime, spent more than a week in hospital after five shots were fired as he left the building of the television station RTL Boulevard in a busy area of the United States on September 7. city. .
Police detained the two suspects shortly after the incident. Rotterdam rapper Delano Geerman, 21, who performed as “Demper” or “Slick”, had a criminal record and was accused of glorifying violence on a YouTube channel called 101Barz.
Polish-born, 35-year-old Kamiel Egiert had an outstanding European arrest warrant for theft and robbery issued by Poland.
The outcome of the case is expected to be announced on July 14. At Monday’s hearing, the prosecution asked for a life sentence. Sessions will continue on June 15th.
According to the Public Ministry, it is an aggravated penalty for manslaughter on the orders of a “completely innocent citizen”.
“There is no longer a famous and well-loved crime reporter with a long history and unmatched determination. His death shocked the entire Netherlands and left the country in deep mourning.”
The two have not claimed responsibility for De Vries’ murder, despite evidence such as crime footage captured by security cameras and pre- and post-crime texting from Geerman’s cell phone.
“I did not kill this man,” said the driver of the vehicle and the Polish person responsible for tracking.
Geerman, who shot the Dutch journalist in the head from the footage, also sought the right to remain silent.
However, in one of the messages on the phone containing the rapper’s DNA, he reported that the bullet had passed through the journalist’s desk and everyone was screaming, confirming that De Vries was dead. He would receive €150,000 (R$780,000).
The two were arrested less than an hour after the incident, after the car’s license plate was recorded by security cameras on a highway. The footage also shows two people walking around where they were going to attack the journalist minutes before the murder.
The men are from the cities of Maurik and Tiel, which the group leads. Taghi accused of murder, drug trafficking and organized crime.
Peter De Vries’ children attend the trial and address the killer. “If you had asked my father for help instead of pulling the trigger, he would have helped,” said Royce de Vries.
Peter De Vries case frightens Netherlands
The crime against Peter De Vries shocked the Netherlands, a country without a history of violence, and the journalistic world, either for the courage of writers unafraid of security cameras or the reputation of a famous reporter in the country. .
The Dutchman is not the only journalist killed in organized crime-related cases. In Mexico, where there are nine journalists already killed this yeara few cases are attributed to drug trafficking cartels or militias.
The case of the Dutch journalist drew attention to the power of gangs in Europe.
In an interview with Dutch media shortly after the crime, Italian judge and prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said that the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France underestimated the destabilizing effect of organized crime on society. According to him, the Netherlands has “minimal equipment” to face criminal gangs.
“European countries have no idea what a mafia really is, a serious criminal and what they can do,” Gratteri said.
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Journalist knew he was a target but refused escort
Two years before the crime, police warned De Vries that Taghi was on the “list of the dead” for providing outstanding support to the main witness against the criminal.
The murdered Dutch journalist even revealed on Twitter that he was under threat, but chose not to accept police protection.
Peter R. de Vries was an award-winning professional who covered major criminal cases.
In his 35-year career, he investigated more than 500 murder cases and became one of the country’s best-known police reporters.
His 1983 book about the kidnapping of beer tycoon Freddy Heineken was adapted into a Hollywood movie starring Anthony Hopkins. He became even more popular when he was running a crime TV show since 1995.
He worked for publications such as De Vries, De Telegraaf, Panorama magazine and Algemeen Dagblad. In 2008, she won an International Emmy Award for her investigation into the 2006 disappearance of young Natalee Holloway in Aruba.
He worked as a duo with journalist Cees Koring for five years.
“In the 1980s investigative journalism and crime reporting were still in their infancy. We were pioneers. Peter’s TV appearances gave our event an appearance and took it to a higher level,” he said.
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source: Noticias
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