LEEUWARDEN - The three men who allegedly threw two boys and a girl into a Leeuwarden canal on New Year's morning deny.
During a pro forma hearing on their case, their lawyers argued Monday for the remand to be lifted. The prosecution opposed it. This week, the court will make a decision. Content of the case will not be discussed until later. The lawyers still have a list of eleven witnesses they want to question.
According to prosecutor Eelco Jepkema, it is clear that the trio - two Leeuwarden brothers aged 21 and 24 and a man from Assen aged 39 - are responsible for the violence against the victims. They were thrown into the water along the Voorstreek, had bicycles and bricks thrown at them, were pushed under and prevented from scrambling onto the shore. That constitutes attempted manslaughter.
But lawyer Serge Weening argued that the elder Leeuwarder did not push anyone and had just ended up in the water himself. Because he has a lung condition, one of his companions went after him. Out of anger, he would have wrestled with the person who had given him the push. The suspects would not have prevented anyone from getting out of the moat.
Attorney Bart Canoy of the youngest brother argued, based on camera footage, that his client could not be blamed for throwing a bicycle, as alleged. Jantine Rouwé, lawyer for the man from Assen, thought the accusation of attempted manslaughter was exaggerated. The water in the canal that night came only halfway to the hips, she said.
