Reporter Saskia Belleman reports on the hearing. Follow her report at the bottom of this post.
That is what lawyer Yehudi Moszkowicz wants, who has recently been assisting suspect Moreno B. together with Gerald and Machteld Roethof. Moreno B. was sentenced in October last year to thirty years in prison together with his co-defendant Gërmo B. for the murder of Wiersum, who was shot dead in September 2019 near his home in Amsterdam Buitenveldert.
Moszkowicz wants the court to reconsider an earlier decision to hear the criminal case itself, and not to refer it to another court. The court believes it is in a good position to judge the case objectively.
Moszkowicz does not believe in that. Wiersum is unmistakably someone who belonged to your business circle of acquaintances. You have been through many things with him. We build an emotional bond with people we see often. Positive or negative. The body produces the so-called hug hormone when you talk to each other often.”
‘Contrary to guideline for own profession’
By taking the case itself, the court is acting in violation of its own profession’s directive, which states that any appearance of bias must be avoided, Moszkowicz says. He finds the statement of the court that Wiersum himself is not a party to the proceedings in this case ridiculous. “He is the ultimate injured party in this case. And therefore a litigant. He was shot. The grief over that has echoed through the corridors of your court.”
He asked the court’s attorneys to indicate how many cases they have done in which Wiersum acted as a lawyer, how often they took courses together, or had private or business contact with the shot lawyer in any other way. If the councilors do not do this on their own, Moszkowicz will investigate it himself, he says. “In a case in which a life sentence has been demanded, any noise must be prevented.”