On May 20, a 53-year-old man was shot dead on the street in Zwartsluisstraat, The Hague. A 38-year-old suspect who reported to the police two hours later stood trial today. The suspect claimed self-defense, but the Public Prosecution Service does not agree.
The victim had already found a note under his windshield wiper in the morning stating he owed a debt from the past that needed to be paid. There was a phone number to call. From that moment, everything started moving.
Throughout the day, calls were made by and to the victim multiple times, and various intermediaries got involved in the story. Who spoke to whom, what was discussed, and what triggered the note and the whole story remain unclear despite extensive police investigation. No evidence was found for a past debt. The fact is that at 10:30 PM that evening, an appointment was made at the victims home, where others were also present. Then the suspect arrived.
Shot immediately
The suspect stated he was attacked and therefore fired shots. Other witnesses say he approached and immediately shot the victim. These statements are supported by camera footage. Although of low quality, it clearly shows less than two seconds between the suspects arrival and the first shot fired.
The suspect also said that during the struggle he saw someone pull something and heard a bang, after which he grabbed his own firearm. However, gunshot residue analysis shows no evidence of shots fired from any weapon other than the suspects.
The Public Prosecution Service believes it was murder, with the suspect having planned to kill the victim beforehand. The prosecutor demanded a 21-year prison sentence. The court will rule in two weeks.
