Several thousand people walked today in Maastricht, in the southeast of the Netherlands, with a silent march for 9-year-old Gino, who was found dead last week in Geleen. They walked past the house where Gino lived with his mother.
Many people carry white balloons with them. Gino’s mother and a sister lead the way. A procession was also organized yesterday, but unlike the procession in Kerkrade, today in Maastricht was a quiet and modest procession. The bells of a neighboring church did ring at the start of the tour.
Gino lived in Maastricht until he was forced to stay with his older sister in Kerkrade two weeks ago because of his single mother’s illness. He was last seen on Wednesday night last week. Three days later he was found dead in Geleen. According to the police, he was kidnapped and murdered. For this, 22-year-old Donny M. from Geleen was arrested.
Participants in the silent tour in Maastricht carry lamps, lights and lanterns. Gino was afraid of the dark. There are many flowers, cuddly toys and candles in front of the house on the Gildenweg. The boy was a familiar face in his neighborhood. He often played outside and was known by everyone.
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“He was born here, he played football and sometimes he played pranks,” his sister Naomi said in a speech at the community center to the estimated 2,000 people. “In this neighbourhood, the devastation is great, the sadness enormous. We hope that the Netherlands has now been shaken awake and will learn from this. This can never happen again.”
In her speech, Mayor Annemarie Penn said she was “stunned and speechless.” And she continued: “We’re here because we have to say sorry to Gino that your young life has ended so unjustly for you.” She concluded her speech with the words: “Thank you dear Gino for who you were. Goodbye, Jungske oet Mestreech!”
The children who had walked along then released their balloons that had been carried along.
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