Judge to issue ruling in assassination of lawyer Derk Wiersum

The Amsterdam court will issue a ruling on Monday in the case of two men who have been suspected of murdering lawyer Derk Wiersum. The 44-year-old lawyer was shot dead on September 18, 2019, in front of his home in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert. The Public Prosecution Services has demanded a life sentence for the two suspects, 33-year-old Moreno B. and 37-year-old Giermo B.

Wiersum was one of the lawyers of crown witness Nabil B. in the notorious Maregno liquidation process around the main suspect Ridouan Taghi. The murder sent a shock wave through the country. Investigations into intermediaries and potential clients are still ongoing.

Wiersum was getting into his care around 7:30 a.m. on the morning in question when he was approached by a man with his weapon drawn. The gun jammed at which point the lawyer stepped out of his car. Outside of the car he was still shot at and hit at least six times. A shot to the head proved to be fatal.

Giermo B. from Amsterdam was arrested two weeks when was about to leave for Suriname. Moreno B. from Rotterdam was arrested in January 2020. Both have denied the murder. The evidence presented by the OM includes DNA traces and accurately mapped phone movements. The defendants' lawyers said the evidence is insufficient. They have asked for acquittal.

The brother of crown witness Nabil B. was shot dead in March 2018, shortly after his agreements with the judiciary were revealed. After the murder of lawyer Wiersum, the Marengo process came under high tension.

In July crime journalist Peter R. de Vries. He had been a confidant of Nabil B. since mid-2020. Nothing has been made formally known about who ordered the assassination but many suspect Taghi and his associates to be responsible.