Badr Hari, Prosecutor could appeal sentence

Immediately after the Amsterdam court passed its sentence against kick boxer Badr Hari, Friday, the Public Prosecution announced to appeal the decision. Hari's lawyers, Bénédicte Ficq and Marnix van der Werf, announced they would study the verdict over the next two weeks and then decide whether they will also appeal the sentence. Hari was sentenced to 18 months in prison, of which 6 months are conditional.

Since the kick boxer already spent 8 months in detention, effectively only 4 months are left. Additionally Hari was sentenced to compensate Coen Everink for €20,792.30. His fellow suspect, Ferhat Y., was acquitted for lack of proof. Although the court handed out a sentence that was lower than what the prosecutions demanded for five assaults that were proven, the court dismissed the argument of Ficq as would Hari's remand, a fine, or a ban from the hotel and catering industry be punishment enough. Hari's conviction for the Sensation case 'feels unfair' according to his lawyer, Ficq, because it was not determined who caused Everink's severe foot injury. Hari admitted to striking the first blow. The court considers violence in the nightlife scene even more severe, because it results in strong emotions of insecurity in the victims and the public.