New suspect in Peter R. de Vries murder case allegedly led group from Curaçao prison

The most recent suspect in the case regarding the murder of Peter R. de Vries has a network of people and bank accounts in the Netherlands that he used to pay other suspects in the case, the Public Prosecution Service said during the first hearing against Raily B. on Thursday.

The 39-year-old B. is suspected of playing a leading role in the Antillean branch of the criminal organization involved in the murder. He allegedly directed the group from his prison cell in Curaçao.

The suspects are accused of preparing the murder of De Vries, filming the aftermath, and then sharing the footage on social media.

The crime reporter was fatally shot on July 6, 2021, in the city center of Amsterdam. He died of his injuries nine days later. The court sentenced the shooter, Delano G., and the driver, Kamil E., to 28 years in prison in June of 2024. An appeal is underway in the case of all nine suspects who stood trial.

According to the OM, B. arranged payment for a hotel and a parking fine. “It wasn’t about very large sums, but they were essential payments for the criminal organization’s daily expenses,” the prosecutor said.

B. was arrested in Curaçao on April 14. He is serving a 20-year prison sentence there for his role in a fatal shooting at the airport Hato in 2014. The shooting resulted in two deaths and seven people were injured.

During his arrest, the suspect tried to flush a telephone down the toilet. "Clearly, he still has contacts that must remain hidden from the authorities,” the prosecutor concluded. The phone is still being examined.

Prosecutors have not yet identified the person who gave B. his orders. “That’s still a blind spot for us,” the prosecutor said. However, the OM does have messages between B. and other suspects in the murder of De Vries.

According to his lawyer, there is no evidence that B. played a role in the alleged criminal organization. The fact that he was in contact with “relevant people” who are suspected of the murder of De Vries is not enough, according to the lawyer. B. was not present in the courtroom.

The Public Prosecution Service hopes the case can be heard on its merits early next year. The next hearing is scheduled for September 30. Until then, B. will remain in custody.