Today, Monday, November 3, a trial begins at the court in Schiphol against four suspects. The Public Prosecution Service North Holland (OM) alleges that on February 12 last year in Purmerend they committed murder or manslaughter in association, an attempt thereof, illegal (fire)arms possession, and public violence. The suspects are young men aged 17 to 21 from Purmerend, Amsterdam, and Belgium. They will also face trial for other violent crimes and property offenses in the coming period.
Fatal fight
On February 12, 2024, things went terribly wrong at the station in Purmerend. Two rival groups arranged a one-on-one fight where no weapons were to be used. However, at the scene, one group fired shots at the other group. A stabbing also occurred. A 19-year-old boy from Purmerend died, and a 19-year-old boy from Medemblik was seriously injured.
Long-standing feud
The fatal incident was preceded by a long-standing feud between two rival groups. The feud began at a festival in 2023 where two boys had a quarrel. From that moment, a series of incidents occurred, including assaults, threats, an explosion, and stabbing incidents. A first low point in the violence series was a stabbing on July 1, 2023, where a victim narrowly survived an arterial bleeding.
Previous convictions
Some involved in the July 1, 2023 incident had to answer to the court in 2024. In July this year, six minors were tried for cleaning and disposing of the knife and firearm used in the shooting and stabbing incident on February 12, 2024. They were sentenced by the court to (partly conditional) juvenile detention, imposition of the PIJ measure (juvenile TBS), and community service.
Schedule
This criminal case will be substantively handled between November 3 and 19 at the North Holland court, location Judicial Complex Schiphol. A total of nine hearing days are scheduled. One of the suspects is a minor young man from Amsterdam; his case will be handled behind closed doors. The OM is expected to formulate the sentences against all suspects on Monday, November 10. The courts verdict is provisionally scheduled for December 19 of this year.
