Marco Borsato is furious with John van den Heuvel. According to the singer, the Telegraaf journalist and RTL Boulevard star plays a questionable role in the indecent case against him. “Goddamn*mme!”
It is no secret that John van den Heuvel is not at all objective as an interpreter of the Marco Borsato case. The journalist is completely in the camp of Marco’s complainant A., with whom he was already in contact before she filed a report against the singer. In fact, John advised A. on how to file a report and made a big splash with that news after reporting it.
Extremely influential
John has had an extreme influence on public opinion about Marco, because he has been so convinced of his guilt for years. But according to Marco and his defense, that is not all: John would also have strongly encouraged A. to report the crime. This could indicate possible influence on this then young girl.
Marco’s lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops in court: “He said: ‘You really have to state and clarify that it concerns a penis and between your legs and so on.’ Van den Heuvel practiced the questions and answers. How blind can you be if you still want to insist that it was your own decision and not a controlled statement?”
Goddamn*mme
It’s incredible, says Marco himself. He said yesterday during his closing speech: “How can it be that a journalist has influenced public opinion over the past four years? How can it be that this same journalist then practices, prepares the declaration, says what should and should not be said, shows photos, ‘you have to show them’.”
“From: ‘It is important that you say penis’. Huh? What is happening here? What is the role? So a journalist can turn public opinion against me for four years. That is what happened. That has irreparably damaged my career. (…) Yes, goddammit, what is going on here? This is not what freedom of the press is meant for! I have the right to a fair trial!”
No story
Show expert Bart Ettekoven points out the importance that John had. “Could it have played a role? Because of course he knew: without a report, I have no story,” he suggests Show news.
According to colleague Bram Moszkowicz, who is also clearly a complainant, this is irrelevant. “Suppose that is the case, then that says nothing about the veracity of that report. Suppose that John sent the report to be filed, that says nothing about the credibility of that report.”
John denies
John denies it RTL Boulevard when asked, he did not say that he had advised on matters such as naming Marco’s genitals. “Then you explain that if you file a report, you have to put everything on the table, almost literally and figuratively, and you also have to take evidence with you. You give that to someone.”
He denies having influenced the complainant. “I explained to her how a declaration works. (…) I didn’t talk to her for a second about what she should and shouldn’t say.”