Fifth suspect held over Maja's murder

25 November 2003

AMSTERDAM — Police have arrested a fifth person as inquiries into the murder of 16-year-old Maja Bradaric continue, but the authorities have refused to confirm the detainee’s identity.

The four remaining suspects appeared before a judge in Arnhem on Monday, three of whom were remanded in custody for an additional 10 days, ANP reported.

The suspects were arrested last Friday and have been identified as an 18-year-old Nijmegen man, an 18-year-old Beuningen man and a 16-year-old boy from Nijmegen. Police inquires are still being conducted into the fourth suspect.

Maja’s burning corpse was found dumped near the eastern city of Nijmegen at about 12.20am on 18 November. The cause of death has not been made public, but an autopsy indicated the girl was dead before her body was set alight.

The victim’s parents reported her missing on the night of Monday 17 November. The teenager had been visiting friends before her disappearance, but it has also been suggested that she had a secret meeting. She never returned home.

The Dominicus College in Nijmegen — the VWO school at which Maja was a fourth-year student — held a closed, special ceremony at its auditorium on Sunday morning. About 600 students, parents and teachers attended the service.

School principal Peters has been assured by the police that the first four arrested suspects were not students of the Dominicus College. But it has also been reported that one of the suspects is a former boyfriend of Maja.

The principal said Maja’s funeral will take place on Wednesday in Nijmegen.

Subject: Dutch news

Fifth suspect held over Maja’s murder