Dutch crime journalist Peter R. de Vries has died after being shot in Amsterdam on July 6 2021. He was 64 years outdated.
Famend for his dedication to unsolved crimes and assist to the households of crime victims, he investigated greater than 500 homicide recordsdata and performed a pivotal function in fixing a number of chilly circumstances.
Peter added the R. (brief for Rudolf, his second identify) to his identify to differentiate himself. In a radio interview, he as soon as mentioned that his identify was in any other case fairly abnormal.
He began his profession as a 20-year-old trainee at De Telegraaf, the most important Dutch day by day morning newspaper.
He was nonetheless a younger journalist in 1983 when he adopted the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, the magnate of the well-known beer model.
Heineken was ultimately launched and a number of other kidnappers had been caught and despatched to jail, together with Cor van Hout and prime Dutch legal Willem Holleeder. De Vries later befriended Van Hout, which noticed him criticised.
Van Hout was assassinated in 2003. Holleeder was launched however is presently serving a life sentence after being convicted of 5 murders and one depend of manslaughter.
De Vries wrote two books in regards to the investigation. One was later tailored into Kidnapping Freddy Heineken, a 2015 movie starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.
It was the beginning of an extended and spectacular profession as against the law journalist. He labored for a number of newspapers and magazines earlier than getting his personal tv programme, named after himself, which lasted for 17 years.
De Vries acquired worldwide consideration for his investigative work across the disappearance of US citizen Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005, for which he received an Worldwide Emmy Award.
De Vries famously revealed undercover footage during which a Dutch man, Joran van der Sloot, claims he was current when Holloway died and says he discarded her physique.
Whereas Van der Sloot turned a chief suspect, he was by no means convicted. Holloway’s physique was by no means discovered.
Van der Sloot stays in custody at the moment after he was convicted of killing a Peruvian girl, Stephany Flores Ramírez, in Lima in 2010.
Straight speaking
Final 12 months, De Vries assist chilly a chilly case investigation.
In November 2020, greater than 20 years after the dying of 11-year-old Nicky Verstappen, suspect Jos B. was sentenced to 12.5 years in jail. De Vries was there throughout your complete trial, supporting Verstappen’s mother and father.
Extra just lately, de Vries opened a tip-off line to assist discover Tanja Groen, a pupil who went lacking in 1993.
“For the following of kin, the involvement of Peter R. De Vries in trials was of essential significance,” mentioned courtroom and authorized reporter Saskia Belleman. “It was his dedication that made certain circumstances weren’t forgotten and police and the judiciary determined to take one other look.”
An everyday speak present visitor who didn’t mince his phrases, with a sure vainness, the well-dressed journalist dared to problem the nation’s largest criminals – which didn’t go down effectively with everybody.
In 2013, he and his spouse pressed fees towards Willem Holleeder, one of many Heineken kidnappers, after receiving dying threats.
Lately, he has been helping the crown witness within the closely guarded Marengo trial, one of many largest Dutch crime circumstances. Seventeen suspects of murders or tried murders between 2015 and 2019 are on trial.
One of many victims was ex-convict-turned-crime blogger Martin Kok, who was killed in 2016.
The crown witness’s brother was assassinated in 2018, adopted by his lawyer, Derk Wiersum, in 2019.
A number of attorneys stop the case over to security issues.
However de Vries didn’t need any safety.
“When you have police in your left and proper, they’ll nonetheless shoot you from the entrance,” he mentioned in an interview.
Journalist Eddy Van der Ley and others questioned de Vries over his choice, to little avail.
“He used to say, ‘Should you can’t stand the warmth, get out of the kitchen’,” van der Ley advised Al Jazeera. “He knew he was taking a threat, however he was fearless.”
Fellow crime journalist Mick van Wely, writing in De Telegraaf, mentioned earlier than de Vries’ dying: “Maybe the truth that he had defied so many fierce enemies and threats made him really feel untouchable.”
On July 6, the Netherlands went into shock when de Vries was shot.
He had simply completed recording a present of RTL Boulevard, on which he was a frequent visitor. He was on his solution to his automotive, strolling previous crowds of individuals having fun with a post-work drink, when he was shot.
Based on Van Wely, the way in which during which the assault was dedicated reveals all of the traits of a well-prepared assault.
“Peter was fearless,” RTL Boulevard presenter Marieke Elzinga mentioned in a radio interview.
Thus far, two suspects of the taking pictures are in custody.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has mentioned he’ll do all the pieces to ensure justice is served.
In a press convention, Rutte mentioned the assault was surprising and incomprehensible.
“An assault on a brave journalist. And with that an assault on free journalism, that’s so important for our democracy, for our constitutional state and for our society.”
‘He had an enormous coronary heart’
An avid bike owner and passionate soccer fan, he held a season ticket for Ajax and based a sport administration company in 2014 along with his son Royce and Ajax-icon Piet Keizer.
He strongly disagreed with right-wing politicians comparable to Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet and campaigned for refugee rights.
His assist just lately led to a bunch of unregistered refugees to be recognised as Dutch residents after a few years.
“I emailed all of the Dutch media with out a response, however he replied inside 5 minutes,” mentioned Yosef Tekeste-Yemane, one of many refugees, from Ethiopia. “He was indignant, wished to know extra. He put our story on the political agenda.”
“Below a layer of toughness, he had an enormous coronary heart,” mentioned Van der Ley. “He was an expensive man, good friend, father and husband.”
De Vries leaves behind his spouse, daughter and son.