Prosecutor calls on suspects in journalist murder case to make a statement in court

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is calling on the suspects in the appeal of the murder case of Peter R. de Vries to make a statement anyway. Many of the suspects have used their right to not comment during the trial. “That is allowed, but not necessary, there is no obligation to remain silent,” the prosecutor said on Wednesday during the start of the appeal. She pointed out that many questions are unanswered and suspects that some suspects know more. "Why was Peter R. de Vries murdered, who gave the order, and who else was involved?"

De Vries was fatally shot on July 6, 2021, in the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat in the city center of Amsterdam after filming the show RTL Boulevard. He died of his wounds nine days later. The prosecutor called it a “very dark day.”

The OM is convinced that the crime reporter was murdered because he was a confidant of the crown witness in the Marengo trial concerning crime boss Ridouan Taghi. The court saw no evidence to support this claim.“We see the murder as the third murder,” said the prosecutor. The crown witness' brother and his lawyer, Derk Wiersum, had been murdered before this.

The case against Kamil E. was treated on Wednesday. He allegedly drove the getaway car after the assassination of De Vries. The court sentenced him to 28 years in jail after prosecutors had recommended a life sentence. The OM appealed this verdict. “We cannot agree with the sentence imposed,” the prosecutor said.

E. also appealed the verdict. “I have not murdered anyone, I was not there when it happened,” the 38-year-old Polish man said to the appeals court. “I was used as a driver under enormous pressure.”

The trial will continue on Thursday with another preliminary hearing. The cases of the alleged shooter Delano G. and “murder broker” Krystian M. will be discussed.

G. was also sentenced to 28 years in prison. M. received the maximum possible sentence of 26 years and 1 month because he had already been convicted in another criminal case, and his total sentence could not exceed 30 years. Life sentences were recommended against both of these suspects.

Six other suspects will also have their cases discussed on Thursday. They are allegedly involved in preparing the murder or filming the heavily injured De Vries after the attack and sharing the footage on social media. The case is expected to be heard in court at the end of 2025.