About a hundred people formed a guard of honor on Thursday afternoon for the deceased Martinus van de Sande from Best. The 40-year-old father of two young children died last week in a double murder in Kinrooi in Belgium. He wanted to protect his niece Marly (35) from her ex, but paid with his life.
His niece Marly was also killed in the shooting. Martinus was known to his friends as ‘Witte’ and was a big PSV fan. Thursday afternoon the farewell took place at Rijtackers crematorium in Eindhoven.
The honorary hague was created on the initiative of his brother, says Janneke van Lieshout. She is good friends with Martinus and was also part of the honorary guard prior to the farewell service. Stadium bar De Aftrap also shared a call on Facebook to honor the PSV supporter.
‘Final Countdown’
Images show that right behind the hearse a truck drove with a PSV flag in front and on the back. With the help of a horn the song ‘Final Countdown’ by Europe sounded. They paid tribute to ‘Witte’ with fireworks, red torches, red and white smoke pots.
It was a beautiful but emotional goodbye, she says. “Just the way he was. He had a big mouth but a very small heart. It was a beautiful but emotional service, we shared many beautiful memories with each other.” The farewell of his niece Marly takes place at a later moment.
Suspect
The 56-year-old Eric V. from Eindhoven was arrested as a suspect a day after the murder. He allegedly stalked his ex. V. allegedly entered Marly’s apartment with a firearm and shot them both dead.
The Limburg public prosecutor’s office has asked the Netherlands to extradite V. to Belgium. He is still detained in the Netherlands.
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