Fiancée Peter R. de Vries: Main question surrounding murder still unanswered
For Tahmina Akefi, who was engaged to Peter R. de Vries, the most important question surrounding the crime reporter's murder remains unanswered. As long as it is unclear who ordered the murder, "she will not get around to her grieving process," her lawyer said Wednesday.
On the second day of the De Vries murder trial, 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 footage of the testimony they had previously recited. After the prosecution came up with a new witness, large parts of the trial had to go over. Therefore, relatives were again given the opportunity to read a victim impact statement.
'Impractical' to redo story
According to De Vries' children, it would be "unfeasible" to retell the story into which they had put their "heart and soul." "The words have not lost meaning and power," Royce said in a brief introduction in which he, his sister and their mother addressed both literally and figuratively directly the total of nine defendants.
They chose to turn around during that introduction so they could look at the suspects. Royce addressed them all by name.
Peter R. de Vries was shot in the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat in downtown Amsterdam on July 6, 2021, after an appearance in RTL Boulevard. He died of his injuries nine days later. Life sentences were demanded against the alleged shooter and driver, Kamil E. (37) and Delano G. (24), in the summer of 2022.
Next week comes sentencing in the "new" trial. Sentencing is expected in June.
