Patrick V. was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of Tommie van der Burg from Eindhoven. However, he maintains that he is innocent and therefore appealed. The Public Prosecution Service increased Thursday in demanding 24 years. The lawyer general called the murder in the courtroom on Thursday during the appeal ‘a cold and brutal liquidation’.
On the night of April 13, 2015, Van der Burg turned his car into the parking lot of the Van der Valkhotel in Eindhoven. While he was waiting at the barrier in front of the lot, another man walked over to the car. He shot Van der Burg in the head at close range.
After investigation, the now 50-year-old Patrick V. came into the picture as a suspect. According to justice, he was not the only shooter. A year earlier he would have beaten up Van der Burg with an iron bar. This is seen as attempted murder.
Collaborate with ex
The exact motive of the murder is unclear, according to the judiciary. Although it turned out during the earlier court case in 2017 that Patrick V.’s ex had cheated with Van der Burg. V. found out when they were no longer in a relationship, but still saw each other often.
The investigation showed that V. conspired with his ex. This woman informed him when Van der Burg left his favorite bar. After that, V. could strike, according to the Public Prosecution Service. V.’s ex was sentenced to six years in prison for help in 2017. There is no appeal in that case.
V. always denied
According to the Advocate General, V. and his ex prepared the murder in 2015 ‘down to the last detail’. “The gunman appeared out of nowhere. In a dark remote place. Tommie didn’t stand a chance and was shot like a beast.”
V. has always denied shooting Van der Burg.