Algemeen Dagblad, Nov. 14, 2018
Murat K. acquitted of liquidation Tilburg and grenade attack Oosterhout
Murat K. has been acquitted by the court for the murder of 48-year-old Hakki Yesilkagit. The Tilburger was shot dead in Tilburg's Mahlerstraat on June 23, 2006. He was sitting in his car at the time, near his home, and was hit by six bullets at close range.
There is no evidence that K. was in Mahler Street at the time of the liquidation, the court states. While there are incriminating statements against K., the court cannot determine their reliability.
She also acquitted K. of a 2006 attack with a hand grenade in Oosterhout. No one was injured in that attack. However, there was extensive damage to the house, the parental home of a man with whom K. had a quarrel.
The verdict is a severe setback for the judiciary. They had demanded 18 years in prison against K., whose trial was held in the special security court in Amsterdam.
Willem Endstra
During its investigation into Yesilkagit's murder, police came across suspects from other murder investigations, including those into the liquidations of Willem Endstra and criminal John Mieremet. Real estate dealer Endstra was shot dead in May 2004 in front of his office on the Apollolaan in Amsterdam-Zuid. Mieremet was shot dead in November 2005, in the Thai seaside resort of Pattaya.
Criminals Dino Soerel and Willem Holleeder are seen by the judiciary as the principals for the liquidations.
The Justice Department assumes that Russian Namik A. - who allegedly fired the shots at Endstra - was also involved in Yesilkagit's murder. However, he suffered a brain hemorrhage during his pre-trial detention and died in 2012.
New suspects
Two new suspects were recently arrested in the investigation into Mieremet's murder: 38-year-old Özgur C. from Alkmaar and Amsterdam resident Jurmaine B. Justice also suspects them of involvement in Yesilkagit's liquidation.
C. was previously on trial for the murder of Endstra. In that case, the court acquitted him and his co-defendants.
