Dutch news in brief – 21 January

‘Teacher killer’s’ remand detention extended

21 January 2004

AMSTERDAM — A court in The Hague extended on Wednesday the remand detention of 17-year-old Murat D. for an extra 30 days. The student has already confessed to shooting and killing school teacher Hans van Wieren at the Terra College in The Hague on 13 January. D. may only maintain contact with his lawyer.

Sharp rise in petrol prices

Anglo-Dutch energy giant, RoyalDutch Shell increased its advisory price for petrol  on Wednesday for the fourth time since 1 January. It increased the price of petrol by EUR 0.01, bringing the cost of unleaded petrol to EUR 1.199 per litre. Petrol prices also rose by EUR 0.035 on 1 January due to higher excise taxes and levies.

The price of diesel has risen less sharply since the New Year and has also seen a one-off fall in price. One litre was costing on Wednesday EUR 0.004 more and was priced at EUR 0.819. On 1 January the price was EUR 0.812.

Shell bases its prices on international prices, claiming that cold weather in the US and the closure of a large refinery in Algeria had also affected prices. But it also said more factors were at work in what was presently an unstable market.

Allegations of murder against marine ‘unfounded’

An investigation by the military police has indicated that there was no definite legal basis for 43-year-old sergeant-major Erik O. to be accused of murder or manslaughter.

The Dutch peacekeeper soldier was arrested last month for the shooting of a suspected Iraqi looter. He was ordered released on 6 January after an Arnhem Court ruled there was insufficient evidence to warrant his continued remand.

The arrest itself attracted sharp criticism, but Defence Minister Henk Kamp has refused to modify the orders of engagement issued to Dutch peacekeeping soldiers in Iraq.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news