Prosecutor wants more time to investigate tennis coach accused of killing businessman

In court on Friday the Public Prosecutor asked for more tie to investigate the murder of businessman Koen Everink. There is still a number of issues to clear up regarding the prime suspect, tennis coach Mark de J., the Prosecutor said during a pre-trial hearing int he court in Utrecht, NOS reports. Among other things, the Prosecutor still wants to investigate the step-counter on De J.'s phone which seems to not correspond to the statement De J. gave. The Prosecutor also wants to research the knives used to stab Evereink more. If all goes according to plan, the Prosecutor expects to have the case file against De J. done and ready on November 10th, which would mean that the trial can officially start in February. De J.'s lawyer, Peter Hoogendam, accused the Prosecutor of slowing down the process unnecessarily. "With these additional points, it can last until next summer", the lawyer said, according to NOS. He also points out that the psychological exam of his client hasn't even happened yet. Hoogendam also accused the Prosecutor of being too bogged down to the scenario that De J. is the murderer. According to him, the actual murderers have been running free all this time. De J. claims that he is innocent and that he was kidnapped by four men on the night of the murder. According to the lawyer. De J.'s personal life and career were unnecessarily destroyed. The tennis coach himself also had a chance to speak. He expressed doubts about the transparency and fairness of the criminal investigation against him. "I'm done, my emotions are running particularly high these past weeks", he said "I want to go home." He also believes that the investigation against him is being intentionally delayed. Everink was found dead in a pool of blood in his home in Bilthoven in March this year. De J. was at his home the night before. The two were friends. Investigation revealed that De J. has gambling debt and owed Everink money too. The Public Prosecutor believes this could be motive for Everink's murder.