Unscrupulous bill collectors - Trial for manslaughter of German farmer starts in Holland
In Roermond, Netherlands, the trial for the brutal murder of a German biofarmer in the border region began. Three former American army personnel are accused of killing the 53-year-old farmer in Bergen near the Lower Rhine town of Kevelaer, on behalf of a businessman also under investigation from Switzerland, to allegedly collect 450,000 euros owed to the businessman.
The attempt to put the farmer under immense pressure in November 2019, which had reportedly been planned for months by the men flown in from the US, was reported by Limburg 1 from the courtroom. The police were later able to reconstruct the communication of the men using Prepaid-phones.
According to the indictment, each of the Americans was offered 50,000 euros if they could force the German to pay his supposed debt. On the day of the crime, the perpetrators allegedly broke into the farmer's home early in the morning, tied him up, tortured him, and stabbed him to death.
As reported by the sender, the court must try to determine which of the men is actually responsible for the German's death, and which one only guarded his house. The men themselves are accused of this. Ten trial days have been scheduled for the process.
- The businessman under investigation from Switzerland is believed to have had connections in both Germany and the border region near Holland, where the crime took place.
- After the murder in Bergen, close to the Dutch town of Kevelaer, the case resulted in intense cooperation between Dutch and German law enforcement agencies.
- Despite hailing from the United States, the accused men are currently facing trial in a Dutch court, specifically in Roermond, a city known for its stunning architecture and proximity to the border with Germany.
- If found guilty, the three former American army personnel could face severe penalties, including lengthy imprisonment, under the Dutch legal system's process for crimes such as manslaughter.
- The prosecution is expected to present evidence during the upcoming trial in Switzerland, providing insight into the businessman's alleged role in the German biofarmer's tragic death.
