The Court of Appeals in the city of Den Bosch, the Netherlands, released its verdict after the prosecution had filed an appeal in the case of Nicky Verstappen’s death. The lower court had sentenced Josh Brech to 12.5 years after finding him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and the sexual abuse of Nicky Verstappen […]
the Netherlands
Nicky Verstappen verdict
Today came the long awaited verdict in the case of Nicky Verstappen. The fact that we waited about five weeks for the verdict, points to how unusual the case is and how heavy it weighs on the judges. This was symbolized today. After the judges were seated, they first addressed Nicky’s family. Acknowledging the pain […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 7
Today in the trial in the Nicky Verstappen case, we will hear from the Verstappen Family, the prosecution, the defense, and the last word is for the defendant himself. So let’s go over it. WARNING: this post contains graphic elements. First, I heard from readers who thought that if the defendant remained silent during the […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 6
Today, the defense presented their answer to the prosecution’s charges and evidence as presented in court related to the Nicky Verstappen trial. WARNING: this post contains graphic details! The loss of a child as young as Nicky, is horrifying. However, demanding a harsher sentence than the law from that time period allowed for, is unlawful. […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 5
Day 5 in the court room in the case of Nicky Verstappen. Defendant Jos Brech is present. WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. Today, the prosecution presents its case in full. They will follow the case’s time line, presents all forensic evidence again, detail the steps that the police took in the investigation over the […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 4
Today is day 4 in the trial against Jos Brech in the case of Nicky Verstappen. We heard victim impact statements from Nicky’s direct family members: his mother Berthie Verstappen spoke also on behalve of father Peter, Nicky’s younger sister Femke, and Peter’s sister Jacqueline. Earlier today, the family had asked the court whether they […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 3
Day 3 in the Nicky Verstappen trial against Jos Brech brought forward some interesting details but not the breakthrough to solidify this case. We heard from a forensic expert, we got details about the psychiatric observations at the Pieter Baan Centrum where Brech has been for evaluation, and we got a more detailed look at […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 2
Day two covering the trial in the Netherlands in the 1998 unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen (11) who went missing from summer camp. Nicky was found dead 40 hours later. His body was a kilometer away from camp in an area where Christmas trees are grown for wholesale. All posts about Verstappen can be found […]
Nicky Verstappen, case on trial
Today the trial started in the Netherlands in the unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen. Appearing in court: Jos Brech. Brech is charged with abduction, possession of child pornography, and qualified manslaughter. Now, in court, Brech revealed that he didn’t kill Verstappen. When he found him, he was already dead. My translation from articles in the […]
Nicky Verstappen: trial October 2020
Delays in trial proceedings due to Covid19 happened everywhere. So too in the case of Nicky Verstappen, the Netherlands. This week, it was decided that Jos Brech will be back in court on September 28 and 29 for trial preparations. Trial is now set for October 5, 7, 8, 12, and 16. In September, the […]
Gijsbert Simon “Ben” Kistemaker (Aug 20, 1953 – found dead Dec 25, 1979)
UPDATE: the Kistemaker Family has given me permission to use Ben’s Death Certificate online which answers two important questions. Please scroll down as there are also mistakes in this certificate of death. ___ In May 1979, Gijsbert Simon “Ben” Kistemaker (26), traveled from the Netherlands to the United States of America. In New York, he […]
Maria Daanen (Dec 9, 1945 – missing Dec 11, 1971)
In 1971, Maria Daanen aka Ria, went missing from Koudekerk aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. She is white, about 5’8″ (1 m 78 cm), was around 176 lbs (80 kg), with brown hair and eyes. In the photographs, notice the position of her upper teeth. The Case At some point in the night of December […]
Update Nicky Verstappen
On Dec 12, 2018 Jos Brech appeared in court. He denied having abused, kidnapped, and killed Nicky Verstappen (11) in 1998. The prosecution explained where Brech’s DNA was found: most (18 spots) was on all four sides of Nicky’s underwear, one spot on his PJ bottoms, and one spot on his body. They also found […]
Arrest in 1998 Nicky Verstappen case
Judges from the Madrid High Court in Spain decided this morning (Aug 27, 2018) that Jos Brech (55) shall be extradited to the Netherlands. Brech is the prime suspect in the 1998 murder of Nicky Verstappen (11). Brech was interviewed by video conference by the judges. He agreed to an accelerated procedure for extradition according […]
Located in Canada: Johanna de Haas
Located in Canada: Johanna de Haas who was also known as Zwarte Jopie. Johanna’s full name was Johanna “Jopie” Atalia Gersina de Haas. Dutch police spoke at a conference with Canadian colleagues about Johanna. The Canadians found her in the Vancouver Island registers as passed away naturally September 12, 2010, at the age of 74. Apparently, Johanna […]
Missing: Johanna “Jopie” Atalia Gersina de Haas
Missing: Johanna “Jopie” Atalia Gersina de Haas from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She was last seen on February 8, 1960, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. And then she vanished. Her family is still looking for her. UPDATE Feb 13, 2015: I spoke to the Dutch National Police this morning. The DNA results from the 1996 Fairfax County Jane Doe […]
18 years for Jasper S
18 years for Jasper S, that is what the judge handed down for the rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution had asked for 20 years. The defense did not deny the rape but argued that the murder was not intentional hence a reduced sentence was in order. The court did not accept that defense strategy […]
Verdict against Jasper S. expected April 19, 2013
Verdict against Jasper S. expected April 19, 2013. Jasper S. is of course standing trial re the 1999 rape-murder of Marianne Vaatstra. The prosecution asked for 20 years however, his lawyer thinks that is too much and expects a sentence of 15 years. He does not consider Marianne’s murder proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He […]
Jasper S. faces the judge re 1999 Vaatstra murder
Jasper S. faces the judge re 1999 Vaatstra murder. The hearing took place on Feb 27, 2013. Jasper S. did not speak during this hearing. An ongoing debate in the Netherlands is of course, the punishment. Is Jasper S. insane? Should he go to a mental institution? How did he keep this crime a secret? During the night […]
Did Sture Bergwall kill the Stegehuis Family?
Did Sture Bergwall kill the Stegehuis Family? That is THE question now in Sweden so they are reopening this case. The Dutch couple Marinus and Jannie Stegehuis were found murdered in their tent in July 1984 near Lake Vuolep Appojaure, Sweden. Sture Bergwall, convicted and sentenced in their case, is serving life for several crimes. However, […]