Dutch Court Convicts Three Men in Murder of Journalist Peter R. de Vries

The high-profile case exposed deep ties between organized crime and threats to the legal system.

Peter R. de Vries was assassinated in Amsterdam in July 2021 due to his role as an advisor to a key witness in a major criminal case.
Three suspects received sentences ranging from 26 to 28 years, while three others were convicted of complicity and sentenced to 10-14 years.
Prosecutors had sought life sentences for the main perpetrators, who included the shooter and the getaway driver.
The trial highlighted the influence of drug gangs in the Netherlands and prompted calls for stronger measures to protect journalists and legal professionals.
King Willem-Alexander condemned the murder as an attack on the rule of law and the foundation of the constitutional state.