Jan 24, 2024 at 5:11 PM Update: 2 hours ago
For Tahmina Akefi, who was engaged to Peter R. de Vries, the most important question surrounding the murder of the crime reporter is still unanswered. As long as it is unclear who ordered the murder, “she will not be able to start her grieving process,” her lawyer said on Wednesday.
On the second day of the trial surrounding the murder of De Vries, Akefi’s lawyer read a statement on her behalf. Akefi was not present in the court bunker in Amsterdam because, according to her lawyer, the case has too great an impact on her.
Kelly and Royce, De Vries’ children, chose to show images of the statement they had previously presented. After the Public Prosecution Service came up with a new witness, large parts of the trial had to be redone. That is why relatives were again given the opportunity to read a victim statement.
2:17Play button
Royce de Vries: ‘Our story can only be presented once’
‘Impossible’ to retell the story
According to De Vries’ children, it would be “impossible” to retell the story they had put their “heart and soul” into. “The words have not lost their meaning or power,” Royce said in a short introduction in which he, his sister and their mother addressed the nine suspects directly, both literally and figuratively.
They chose to turn around during that introduction so that they could face the suspects. Royce addressed them all by name.
Peter R. de Vries was shot on July 6, 2021 in the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat in the center of Amsterdam, after a performance in RTL Boulevard. He died nine days later from his injuries. Life sentences were demanded against the alleged shooter and driver, Kamil E. (37) and Delano G. (24), in the summer of 2022.
Next week the sentencing requirements will be announced in the ‘new’ trial. The verdict is expected in June.
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