DEN BOSCH/MAASTRICHT - Three weeks ago, the court of appeal dealt with the case against eight suspects, from Maastricht and surroundings, of the robbery murder of Pierre Collette. The judgment in the cases against Emrys H. and Santino S. shows that the court distinguished two phases in the violence against Collette.
The second phase involved only Tommy V. 28 and Jeffrey S. 24. They had ridden in Collette's car to Mount Saint Peter V. said at one point that he did not want Collette to recognize them later. Then the two tried to strangle him by putting one foot on his throat. Finally, V. stabbed him in the chest with a knife.

What sentence S. and V. will receive for their role in Collette's murder is not yet known. The court has reopened the investigation because the appeal judges feel that the reports issued by behavioral experts on these two suspects are not complete enough. Further investigation at the Pieter Baan Center should shed more light on their mental state.

So the court finds that Emrys H. and Santino S. were not involved in the second phase of violence against Collette. That explains the longer sentences. In addition, new statements by Tommy V. and Jeffrey S. influenced the sentence for Emrys H. on appeal. They took back, after the court's verdict, that Emrys had kicked Collette's head as if it were a soccer. Nor does the court consider it proven that Santino S. hit Collette in the head with a baseball bat.

Lesly H., in whose hair salon the plans for the carjacking were smeared, was sentenced on appeal to five and a half years in prison (one year less than at trial).

Helper Johnny V., as in court, received a one-year prison sentence. Sarah H., one of the two women who acted as driver, received five months in prison, two of which were suspended. Finally, there was an acquittal for Maud P., whom the court did not consider proven that she knew of the plans.