Geleen - Douglas C. (42) from Geleen, one of the six arrested suspects in the carnival Sunday manslaughter of Fer Loontjes from Geleen, was immediately released yesterday by order of the public prosecutor's office (OM) in Maastricht. Justice in Maastricht confirmed his release.Douglas C. was arrested as the fifth suspect on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The chambers of the court in Maastricht were to decide tomorrow on his continued detention. C. was allowed to go home as if for that hearing, because the judiciary has insufficient evidence against him to keep him in pretrial detention any longer. C. does remain a suspect in the case.
Almost two weeks ago, 26-year-old Anthony P., one of the other suspects, was already released. Four suspects in the Geleen case remain in jail.
A seventh person, who may have played an important role in the brawl on Sunday, Feb. 3, in the café on the Market Square, is said to be still at large. In the interest of the investigation, the prosecution only wants to say that other arrests are not excluded.
Fer Loontjes was beaten within one minute on Carnival Sunday at the café 't Vlaegelke in Geleen to such an extent that he died two weeks later. The café brawl started at the slot machines in the café where Loontjes was playing.
