Dutch news in brief – 20 February

Bird flu did not mutate into human virus

The mild strain of bird flu passed between Dutch poultry workers and three family members last year without mutating into a human virus, the Lancet medical journal has said. Some 86 people caught the H7N7 strain of avian flu directly from infected chickens in the Netherlands in 2003, according to the study of 453 people with eye infections, flu symptoms or both. One veterinarian who had examined diseased birds died. About 25 million chickens were killed in a preventative cull.

Three appeals lodged over Tilburg murder

Three men convicted over the July 2003 murder of 18-year-old Tilburg man Bart Raaijmakers have lodged appeals. The three suspects were sentenced in the Breda Court on Tuesday to jail terms of up to 12 years. The main suspect was sentenced to nine years and compulsory TBS psychiatric hospitalisation. It is not yet known if the fourth convicted suspect will also appeal.

Hells Angels gang burn videotapes

The Hells Angels gang in Oirsbeek has burned the videotapes they grabbed from a German ZDF and Dutch media camera team, despite promising to return them after the funerals of three murdered gang members. Three members of the De Nomads gang were found shot dead last week and police are searching for a fourth man seen with them on the night they disappeared. The victims were buried on Wednesday and Thursday. The police said burning the videotapes is a prosecutable offence, but will let the matter rest.

Heroin suspects remanded in custody

Two Dutch women detained in custody on heroin smuggling charges had their remand custody extended by the Izmir Court in Turkey. The case will resume on 23 April.

Trade union chief a possible Tilburg mayor

The chief of Christian trade union federation CNV, Doekle Terpstra, has reacted positively to suggestions he should nominate himself to become Tilburg Mayor and is discussing the matter with the City Council. The southern Dutch city has been without a mayor since Johan Stekelenburg resigned on 16 September. He died a week later from cancer.

Subject: Dutch news