In the Netherlands, three individuals have been found guilty in the murder case of prominent Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries, who was killed in July 2021.
As reported by AP, all three defendants – the shooter, the driver assisting in the escape, and the organizer of the attack – have been convicted as direct accomplices to the murder.
The shooter and the driver have been sentenced to 28 years in prison, while the organizer received a sentence of 26 years and one month. Prosecutors had demanded life imprisonment for all three.
During the trial, presiding judge Gert Oldekamp from the district court in Amsterdam noted the "unprecedented ruthlessness" displayed by the perpetrators, stating that their actions had shown a complete disregard for human life.
De Vries, aged 64, was shot in central Amsterdam on July 5, 2021, and passed away nine days later, sending shockwaves across the country.
Known for his investigative journalism and coverage of high-profile cases, including the 1983 kidnapping of beer magnate Freddie Heineken, De Vries had been under police protection due to threats arising from his involvement in criminal investigations.
Following his death, charges were brought against a total of nine individuals, with one suspect detained in Poland.
Three were convicted as accomplices and sentenced to 10 to 14 years in prison. Another was acquitted of murder but convicted of drug possession. Two others, accused of involvement in a criminal organization, were ultimately acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
To comply with Dutch privacy laws, the names of the defendants remain undisclosed.
