Cops involved in Aruban man's chokehold death to remain anonymous: court
The identities of the five police officers involved in the death in custody of 42-year-old Mitch Henriquez, will not be disclosed to the Aruban man's relatives, the appeals court in The Hague ruled. This same request was also rejected by a court in March, NU.nl reports.
Henriquez's family wants to know the names of the police officers involved so that they can be called to testify in preparation for a civil lawsuit against the officers. The State worries that the officers' lives may be in danger if their names are released.
Henriquez died soon after being arrested at The Hague music festival Night at the Park in the summer of 2015. An autopsy later determined that he died due to a crushed larynx, likely caused by a chokehold the police used on him. Five police officers were involved in the arrest, two are being prosecuted for his death.
The trial against the two officers was delayed earlier this year, after another forensic report stated that Henriquez likely died due to heart failure, and not a crushed larynx. This report was submitted by forensic doctor Kees Das, hired by the lawyers of the police officers. In April the court ordered a new investigation into the Aruban man's death, as the two reports conclusion differ so significantly.
