Appeals court cuts sentence to 26 years in Zwolle McDonald’s murder of two brothers
The Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal on May 7 upheld the double murder conviction of Veysel Ü. but reduced his prison sentence from 30 years to 26 years and 6 months for the 2022 shooting deaths of two brothers inside a crowded McDonald’s in Zwolle.
The now 36-year-old man shot and killed the two brothers on March 30, 2022. He had arranged to meet them at the restaurant. They spoke for about an hour. He then walked to the counter, returned to their table, placed his tray down without sitting again, and fired 11 aimed shots at them from a standing position at close range. Both brothers died at the scene. He turned himself in to the police later that evening.
In December 2023, the Overijssel District Court sentenced the then 34-year-old Veysel Ü. to 30 years in prison and ordered him to pay more than 200,000 euros in compensation, exactly as prosecutors had demanded.
The appeals court ruled that Ü. acted with premeditation. He arrived at the McDonald’s with a loaded pistol, calmly returned from the counter, set down his tray, and fired the shots.
Ü. claimed in the appeal that he fired because he thought one of the brothers, Ali, was reaching for a weapon. His lawyers argued this amounted to self-defense that would make him not criminally liable. The court rejected the claim, calling his account of seeing a threatening movement not credible.
The defense also argued that Ü. acted under extreme psychological pressure due to financial problems and threats from the brothers. The court recognized a long-running financial conflict between Ü. and a relative of the victims. However, it found the conversation on March 30, 2022, was not different or more threatening than previous ones. No sudden event created pressure so severe that he could not resist it. The court rejected the argument.
A psychological evaluation and observation at the Pieter Baan Centrum showed no mental disorder that influenced the murders. The court ruled Ü. was fully accountable for his actions.
The court described the killings as extraordinarily serious and shocking. Ü. fired 11 bullets at the brothers in broad daylight around dinnertime in a busy McDonald’s in Zwolle, in front of multiple guests and children, appearing cold-blooded. The crimes caused immense and irreparable harm to the victims’ families. Although he admitted shooting them, Ü. did not provide full disclosure. His explanation on appeal made it harder for the relatives to process their loss.
The appeals court lowered the sentence from the 30 years imposed by the district court because Ü. developed a mental health disorder while in detention and because the proceedings exceeded the reasonable time limit. He will receive credit for all time already spent in pretrial detention.
The court awarded the victims’ partners and children compensation for emotional damages of 17,500 euros and 20,000 euros. It also partially awarded costs for the funerals and grave rights.
