Book on Dutch boy's murder pulled off shelves after one day due to threats to the author

A book about the famous case of the murder of nine-year-old Gino has been taken off the shelves after a day because the author has received “severe threats.” The author, Bjorn Thimister, and the publishing company Uitgeverij TIC said on Tuesday in a statement on Facebook.

“The case Gino” was released on Monday and Gino’s youngest sister, Naomi, wrote on social media the same day that “to our great dismay this book was created without our involvement and without any form of consultation with us as directly affected family members. We were not even informed that a book would be produced." According to Uitgeverij TIC, she was given two copies to review before publication.

“We are trying to process the atrocities that have become known to us now that the criminal case has been concluded," Naomi’s message reads. "The fact that a book has now been published, without our voice and cooperation, in which our immense loss is recounted, feels like an infringement on our grief and our right to a respectful processing."

The sister called on people to share the message, in which she distanced herself from the book. The publicist said that many people followed this advice with intimidation and severe threats to the author as a result.

"It was neither the author nor the publisher's intention to offend anyone, and we sincerely regret that we misjudged this. In order to prevent further escalation and commotion, we have decided not to promote the book any further and to stop sales. We wish Gino's family all the best and much strength in the further processing of this tragedy,” said Uitgeverij TIC and Thimister.

Donny M. was convicted to 25 years in prison and mandatory psychiatric treatment at a TBS facility for the kidnapping, sexual abuse, and murder of Gino in June 2022.