Dutch prosecutors seek life sentence for ordering murder in 2002

Prosecutors in the Netherlands have called for a life sentence for a man accused of ordering a murder 22 years ago.

British drug trafficker Robert Dawes was accused three years ago of ordering the murder of Gerard Meesters, who was shot outside his home in Groningen in 2002.

The 52-year-old man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for drug trafficking in 2018 after a judge-only hearing in Paris.

The North Holland Public Prosecutor’s Office said he is currently on trial in Amsterdam for “inciting the murder” of Mr. Meesters.

In a statement, OM said that in 2005, a British man was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, while other sentences were given to people involved in the crime.

He said the failure to trace who carried out the attack at the time “placed a heavy burden on (Mr.) Meesters’ family” but that an inquest case was opened against Dawes in 2021.

“Prosecutors describe him as an intellectual genius, which means that without his involvement the murder would not have happened,” OM said. he said.

“It is alleged that the suspect leads a criminal organization engaged in drug trafficking, of which the armed attacker is also a member.”

OM said the victim “had no connection with the criminal organization led by the suspect” and was “killed solely to instill fear”, while others were beaten or tortured to prevent them from talking about the case.

Following the public hearing in December 2021, a final meeting took place with an investigating judge in February this year, which “allowed for hearing dates to be scheduled”.

Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Dawes, “in part because the suspect lived his entire life as a ruthless criminal and amassed a significant fortune,” highlighting the impact on the victim’s family.

“Since 2002, Gerard Meesters’ relatives have been trapped in a horrific ordeal,” they said.

“They witnessed how their father, who was completely innocent, was killed by a criminal organization.”