Rioters from Alkmaar and Egmond aan den Hoef have just received a lower sentence from the judge for their involvement in the explosion of violence in the AZ stadium. This is because the police, led by the Public Prosecution Service, have not fulfilled the promise that reporters would no longer appear on television. “This has a major impact on my marriage and children.”
That Thursday evening, May 18, things go completely wrong towards the end of AZ’s match against West Ham United. A large group of supporters from the fanatical Alkmaar home section storm the stands with Englishmen.
In the court of Alkmaar there were already yesterday seven men from Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard and Obdam were sentenced to prison sentences and area bans. Today, seven men are again on trial, including TG (45) from Alkmaar and HB (26) from Egmond aan den Hoef.
The first says he walks with the crowd under the guise of ‘herd behaviour’ when the fence has been knocked down after the whistle. He then ‘consciously and with a hood’ seeks confrontation with supporters of West Ham United in the stands, makes kicking movements.
“I can’t remember that, but I see it on images. If I hit someone, I’m sorry,” said the father of two sons in court today.
“An acquaintance called that he had seen me on television”
The other man, a 26-year-old Hoever, says that during the match he was slightly agitated about the flag that the English hung over the stands at the end of the match. “I went there with my stupid head.”
He then goes up to the main stand and attacks a ‘quite hefty gentleman’, in his own words because he was holding an AZ supporter. “When I realized what I was doing, I immediately regretted it. I have created a situation for people and I am increasingly ashamed. I am a fanatical supporter and nothing has ever happened.”
‘I was called that I was on TV’
That evening, according to the public prosecutor full of unprecedented violence, the men initially left the stadium. However, they were aware that they will probably be seen on camera images.
Both men therefore report to the police on Sundays and Mondays, sometimes several times. Photos are also taken. “I also said please don’t show my picture.”
In the media, the police has already warned in the broadcast of Opsporing Requested to publish photos of suspects of the riots. “They have until 4 p.m. to report,” said the message to the rioters.
The police also speak of ‘fair play’ in that they give people the opportunity to report. But then that evening the telephone of the Alkmaarder G.
Text continues below the photo.
“An acquaintance said he had seen me on television.” He then contacts the police again, asking whether the photos could now be removed from the website of Opsporing Requested.
But that doesn’t happen until late the next morning. “My marriage suffers. There is emotional damage for my children,” says the 45-year-old. The Hoever has also been recognized by people on television. “That was a bit scary.”
According to the public prosecutor, the broadcasting of the images plays a role in the fact that the men at the station denied having committed criminal offences. They can be seen in the videos and so the men are not yet linked to the suspects in the images.
“I understand hectic and busy at the police, but it didn’t go well”
The judge ruled otherwise this morning: according to her, it did indeed ‘not go well in both cases’. “I understand hectic and bustle at the police. It was incredibly busy and all kinds of people have reported.”
It is possible that the police may have shown photos of men who were already known. “But that doesn’t make it right. You had reported,” she addressed the Alkmaarder. “A photo was taken at the desk and before images came into Opsporing Verzoeken, the police should have looked very carefully.”
And so there is a question of ‘dereliction of form’, irregularities in the preliminary criminal investigation. Therefore, both rioters receive a reduced sentence. The Alkmaarder has been sentenced to 144 hours of community service. The Egmonder of 120 hours.
Both are not allowed to enter and around the stadium for a year. An article about the other suspects and possible convictions will follow later today.
Reaction OM on showing images
A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service has just responded to NH via email about the images of the reported rioters: “It should not have happened. When giving permission (to the police, ed.) to show the image of a suspect, the public prosecutor explicitly stated in advance that suspects who reported themselves prior to the broadcast of Opsporing Requested could no longer be shown on camera. Fortunately, this went well for many suspects, but unfortunately not for all of them. played a role.”