“If Gino had been here, he would have seen all this with big beaming eyes. But suddenly he was gone”, said Gino’s sister Naomi emotionally in a speech. “We are grateful to everyone for all the help and support during the search and after the terrible news. We hope that the Netherlands has been shaken awake.”
Protest
Hundreds of motorcycle owners gave an appearance in Kerkrade. Some came from far away. “We come from Langedijk in North Holland. Yes, especially for tonight”, says Gerard Raadsheer. “I lost a child myself ten years ago. Admittedly not so, but I know how incredibly important it is when your child is remembered in this way. That so many people sympathize with you. In the long run, that has really been a huge support for us. That’s why I’m here. As a tribute to that boy, but also to put a heart to the family. No, I’m not suing the system. The recidivism rates in our country are low. But I don’t want to have that discussion tonight.”
Participants in the tour released balloons in memory of Gino.
ANP/HH
Sandra from Brunssum is also there with her roaring engine and says she knows someone who is involved in the drama. “So I want to be here. This is primarily a commemoration, but also a protest. Against the health care system that may have started to rattle in such a way that this could have happened. I know, it can never be completely prevented. But this 22-year-old boy should have been singled out for his past actions. And that is also a political indictment.”
Volunteers
Motorcyclist Mandy has been one of hundreds of volunteers who searched for Gino in the days before the bad news. “We searched almost non-stop. But it ended tragically. I can imagine people’s anger. That is why this is a commemoration, but also a protest. That this could have gone so wrong.”
Tomorrow there will also be a commemoration in Maastricht. Gino is buried privately.