TUDDERS/MAASTRICHT - Saving what can be saved. With penalty demands of up to eighteen years in prison, there's quite a bit to be gained by the lawyers assisting the suspects in the acid murders. Lawyers are coming up with quite a few points this Friday to reduce the sentence, or even argue for acquittal. Every lawyer tries to portray their client's role as small as possible when they make their plea in the acid murder case.
For some, there is work to be done, as the demands are firm.
Take Maurice L. The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) wants him "put away" for eighteen years because he saved Alan Gergeri's life, possibly killed him. Counsel Serge Weening of Maurice L. comes up in his defense with the verdict of a similar case, which shows that his client should be discharged from prosecution.
This in the context of "psychological supremacy," caused by the fact that Gergeri had abused Maurice for years. And because Maurice is autistic, according to counsel.
Weening also requests that juvenile justice be applied when trying his client. "He was just eighteen years old when he committed his act. And studies show that he is currently behind in his development."
Eighteen years in prison has also been demanded against father Hub L. This for killing Mo Al Jader. But prosecution. at trailing his lawyer Françoise Landerloo questions whether this was done.
Ron van K.'s statements should be doubted considerably, according to her. "It is strange that Ron says that a man's hand held the gun and that it shot from fifty centimeters away through the head of Mo, who was lying on the ground right next to Ron himself, but that he did not see who fired." In short, according to her, there is no evidence that Hub shot at Mo; acquittal for Hub.
Stef Bergmans, attorney for mother Els, does not dispute the criminality of the 58-year-old woman he is assisting. She confessed, she shot Mo Al Jader. But Bergmans dishes out to the court the predicament the woman was in. He describes that the relationship between Mo and the family was not good and was getting worse.
And when Mo threatened Hub in the Tudderen residence - in Els' experience - she grabbed a gun on a whim, and shot at him. Not excusable, but good for less punishment, is the lawyer's conviction. The demand was fifteen years in prison, Bergmans suggests Els should spend ten years in prison.
Ron van K. heard thirty months in prison against him for disposing of the bodies of Gergeri and Al Jader. But his lawyer Wouter Smeets wants the bottom line. "I want to ask if the court will 'gift' my client two months," he said.
