Still no answers: Carlo’s death in Mallorca remains shrouded in mystery

More than two years later, the death of Carlo Heuvelman still raises many questions, to which the answers are still lacking. “Not knowing what happened to my son is unpalatable. Please give me clarity, even if it is anonymous,” Carlo’s mother told the court two weeks ago.

Of all the people on the street that night, there must be someone who knows exactly what happened to Carlo. At least that is what the justice system still assumes to this day.

“There are people around who can give us the answers because they were involved, were there or saw something on video footage,” says a spokesperson for the justice department. “The answers may lie with the suspects, but also others who were on the boulevard at the time of the violence. Unfortunately, we do not have them so far.”

Looking for answers

The big question, of course, is who can still provide those answers two and a half years later. None of the Hilversum suspects have revealed themselves in recent years and the chance that they will do so seems small. They all cling to their innocence.

Other parties involved also seem unable to provide the answers. After the violent night out, Spanish and Dutch justice spoke to dozens of witnesses, all of whom were present on the boulevard that evening. Some witnesses were even heard several times. It has provided the justice department with many answers, but not just that one answer. When it comes to Carlo, a lot is said, but to this day the pieces of the puzzle do not fall into place.

Rumors about video footage

The greatest chance of answers may seem to lie with video images. Rumors have been going around for a long time about a video of the violence that could answer all the questions. Images that show exactly what happened to Carlo that evening, but images that – if they actually exist – remain well hidden.

It is not inconceivable that such a video is still floating around somewhere. Almost all events of the fatal night out were filmed, by security cameras or bystanders with a mobile phone. The day after the assaults, the justice department spoke of a ‘large file’ of security images.

The videos show how the Hilversum group comes to blows twice. First for Café De Zaak when they came to blows with a group of friends from Heerhugowaard with whom they had quarreled moments before, later for café Bar Bier-Express on the boulevard with Carlo’s group of friends. The images show that at least two victims are apparently kicked in the head and it also shows exactly who is responsible.

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But there is no video footage of the most violent assault of the evening, the violence against Carlo Heuvelman. The police have moved heaven and earth to obtain such images, but they have never surfaced.

Any images often remembered

Over the past two and a half years, such an incriminating video has often been remembered, although it has always remained a rumor.

For example, there have been rumors for some time that one of the telephone-recorded videos of the violence on the boulevard of the seaside resort of El Arenal – the so-called GeenStijl video which shows the violence against one of Carlo’s friends – has been shortened. The entire video would have shown a lot more.

And then there is sometimes talk of more videos that clearly show the violence against Carlo Heuvelman. It is even said that the Hilversum group of friends still has such a video, but whether that is the case and what could really be seen on that video is a matter of guesswork.

The justice department has said that it will certainly keep the possibility open that incriminating material is still circulating. “But we cannot do anything with that, because it is a suspicion. For us it is very simple: there is something or there is not,” says a spokesperson.

Lots of filming phones

Apart from the rumors about the two incriminating videos, you would think that it is almost inevitable that more videos were made during the fatal night out. At the time of the violence, the streets were busy, most cafes were just closing their doors while dozens of young people were still standing on the street chatting.

Dozens of young people with a smartphone film just about everything they experience during such a holiday and then send it to their friends. The same young people who have recorded a large part of the fights on the street, but not that one most important moment.

Especially in the months after the fights in Mallorca, the justice department did everything it could to unearth such videos. Apart from the security images that were quickly collected, dozens of tips came in, including videos.

Waiting for a moment of conscience

Possible new footage seems to be the only possibility to give Carlo Heuvelman’s relatives the answers they have been yearning for for more than two years. It is also still crucial to punish all those responsible for the death of their loved one.

Or else? Wait until one of the Hilversum suspects, one of their other friends who were with them on holiday or another bystander on the street has a crisis of conscience and starts sharing the whole story. That will happen sooner or later, Carlo’s relatives and friends know.

“Suppose you grow apart as a group of friends and develop psychological problems in ten years because you did not betray your boyfriend. You each know who did it, but choose to remain silent. Be a man and tell what happened. happened,” said Carlo’s friends in court this month.

NH has contacted the witness who made the two most incriminating videos in the file to present the rumors about the videos. To date, no response has been received to that contact request.