AMSTERDAM — Accused of attempted murder, the father of the 16-year-old student who shot and killed a school teacher in The Hague last month was a bad example for his children, the prosecutor told Rotterdam Court.

Suspect Eyup D. has previously served eight years in a German prison on drugs charges and is accused of an attempted murder in Rotterdam. But the man denies involvement in the 20 October shooting on the Schansweg.

D. admitted that he had kept a gun and ammunition in his house for many years, and he did not react to sharp criticism from the prosecution on Monday that he was a bad example for his children, news agency ANP reported.

The man’s son, Murat, shot and killed economics teacher Hans van Wieren, 49, at the Terra College in The Hague on 13 January. He has confessed to the murder and is in remand detention. Various media previously described the boy as a 17-year-old.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor said it was “alarming” that D. — the father of five children aged between one and a half and 16 — had a gun with ammunition in easy access for his children. 

The gun was seized three months ago during a police house raid and the prosecutor said weapon possession was life threatening and should be strongly combated.

He demanded that D. be sentenced to eight years jail, claiming that he fired four times at taxi driver Recep Simsek. The victim received a bullet wound in the back of the head, his back and right shoulder.

The shooting occurred in the silver-grey Audi A4 car being driven by the victim. Despite his serious injuries, the man managed to get out of the vehicle and escaped the scene with the help of a passing motorist.

The victim later reported to police, claiming that he had been shot by D., but Simsek — who is a suspect in a drugs inquiry in France — later withdrew his statement. The prosecution believes that D. and his companions brought pressure to bear on Simsek.

But the prosecution has also confirmed that D.’s mobile phone was localised in the area at the time of the shooting and a tracker dog has indicated the suspect’s scent was on the passenger seat of the Audi.

The court will hand down its ruling on 23 February.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news