Pierre fell into the hands of unscrupulous youths.

What began as an "ordinary" car theft ended in the gruesome and violent murder of 31-year-old Pierre Collette. A lynching, his brother calls the massacre. At the hearing, the eight suspects continuously deny the facts. But one fact no one can deny: Pierre died a senseless death on the Maastricht Mount St. Pietersberg.
On the evening of July 28, 2004, five boys are sitting together in the hair salon of one of their own: Tommy 17, Lesly 25, Santino 20, Jeffrey 22 and Emrys 20. The boys are using cocaine and concocting a criminal plan: to steal an expensive car and then sell it. And where better to steal a car than the local gay meeting place? After all, chances are that visitors to that place will not go to the police out of shame, or because they do not want to come out for their orientation. A "harmless plan," the fellows think. But it does involve taking a baseball bat and a knife....

The 31-year-old Belgian Pierre Collette is a regular visitor to the Maastricht gay meeting place Keelbus. he will also be there on July 28. As are Maud 25 and Sira 23, who have joined the five boys as drivers. On the Keelbos, even the youngsters notice the small Belgian. He drives a gray metallic Volvo XC90. Such a luxury car must make good money.

For obvious reasons, the original plan, pull Collette out of the car, snatch keys and run off, is changed. Jeffrey and Tommy will seduce Collette. or rather pretend to. "If he drops his pants, we'll take his keys." They lure him to Mount St. Peter, a quiet place where they will supposedly make gentlemanly love. Jeffrey and Tommy get into the car with their victim, the others follow at a distance.

Fatal stabbing to the chest

To make the seduction game seem as real as possible, Jeffrey bares his upper body. Collette looks to fall for it, but then things go awry. When the two try to take his keys from him, he resists. Jeffrey works him to the ground and hits the back of his head with his fists. But Collette manages to break free and runs away. Santino, who has been on guard in the car with the bat, now runs after Collette. he hits him fanatically. So hard that the bat breaks, although Santino himself will later explain that he smashed it on the ground. Tommy, however, says of it, "I heard dull blows and I heard Pierre screaming loudly." Even as Collette lies screaming on the ground, Santino continues to hit.

Emrys has also now joined in, kicking Collette in the head, according to the attorney general's account. But the boy's lawyer denies that during the court hearing. Jeffrey then puts his foot on Collectes throat. He himself later says he only "pushed" with that, but one of the bones in Collette's larynx is broken, an autopsy later reveals.

It's Tommy who realizes that they can't leave Pierre like this. He might recognize them later. Tommy grabs a knife and Jeffrey encourages him to stab. Although he denies it himself, according to court records, it is Tommy who administers the two fatal stabs to Collette's chest. Collette is left disfigured beyond recognition on St. Peter's Mountain. Robbed of his car, watch, wallet and of his life....

The boys enlist the green's regular fence - Johnny - to sell the car, which earns them 2,500 euros. During court hearings, one lawyer after another of the eight suspects explains that all was not meant to be and that their clients were upset and even panicked after the violence. But after the gruesome murder, the group goes back to the hair salon: after-dinner chat and some more cocaine.

A day later, they erase the traces. But what is especially inconceivable: no one calls a rescue service, even if only anonymously. Not even when Collette's family calls in the media in hopes of getting clues about Pierre's disappearance. Johnny shows his boldest side after the murder. He calls the family and is willing to tell them the whereabouts of their beloved Pierre, in exchange for 20,000 euros.

"Brutal, unscrupulous, cowardly" and "killed with excessive force" are terms that fall during this appeal case. Yet the sentences now demanded are lower than those in the earlier trial. An acquittal is even demanded for Maud. The court considers it proven that she did not know about the crime until after it had taken place.

Collette's brother can only shake his head in bewilderment throughout the trial. The only time he changes his posture during the hour-long hearing is when the defendants come to speak. Then he bends over and slaps his hands over his ears. He cannot or will not hear the regrets of his brother's killers.

In his plea, one of the lawyers called the situation his client found himself in "the bad luck of his life. But if anyone has had the bad luck of his life it is Pierre Collette. His life came to a gruesome and far too early end just because of his car.

The verdict will follow this week.