If Jos Brech is back in the Netherlands, there are plenty of lawyers willing to assist him.

This is evident from a tour of prominent Limburg criminal lawyers. "He can call me," says Gitte Stevens of Roermond, known for defending motorcycle club Bandidos.

Many questions

According to the lawyers, it is important to point out that Brech is still a suspect in the Nicky Verstappen case. By this they mean that his guilt still needs to be proven first. "There may be a one-to-one match of dna, but the question is where that dna was found and what kind of traces are involved. A passerby who hung over the corpse can also leave dna. So that does not necessarily prove immediately that he is actually the killer," Stevens said.

Colleague Björn Jegers from Heerlen concurs. "Brech will have to give an explanation for that dna, but whether he will do so openly is the question. He may invoke his right to remain silent, or he may open up and come clean. But that mainly depends on what he himself wants."

Assistance in Spain

Venlo criminal lawyer Marcel Heuvelmans, known among other things as the lawyer of the suspect in the murder of René Steegmans from Venlo, is pleading for Dutch assistance for Brech in Spain soon. "Reports are already circulating that Dutch investigators want to interrogate him in Spain. As far as I am concerned, that is only possible if his defense is then also guaranteed. So I hope he gets a good Dutch lawyer first."

Privacy

Lawyers differ on whether Brech's invasion of privacy is justified. Maastricht lawyer Ivo van de Bergh wonders whether police and Justice could not have first published a picture with a bar without revealing the personal details. "Then you would have sent the signal: we have Brech in the crosshairs, without immediately pillorying him."

Last option

Peer Szymkowiak countered that this is really a last resort that has now been deployed. "It is a weighing of interests. All other options have been finished first and I therefore find the release of his personal data defensible. I think the judge will find this too." Björn Jegers concurs. "This is an exceptional case. The case could not be solved for 20 years. The help of the public was needed here. By the way, as a lawyer, I would defend this if it could help my client."

Advice to Brech

When asked what the first piece of advice would be to Brech if he were to call them for the defense, the lawyers are unanimous. "Say nothing for a while, until I know the file completely," states Heuvelmans. Lawyer: "But that's the advice I give to all clients."