Dutch Public Prosecutors demand life imprisonment against leader of British drug organization for 2002 murder in Groningen
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) North Netherlands has demanded a life sentence for a 52-year-old man from Nottingham, England. He is suspected of ordering the murder of Gerard Meesters. Nearly 22 years ago, on November 28, 2002, Meesters was shot dead at the doorway of his home in the city of Groningen.
On November 24, 2002, five men showed up at Meesters' door. They made it unmistakably clear that he must call a Spanish number to report his sister’s whereabouts. They threatened to return if he did not comply. Meesters called the number but was only able to reach a partial conversation. He had no idea where his sister was.
Life sentence in 2005
After the call, he contacted the police, suspecting the threat might relate to his sister’s involvement in hiding money or drugs. Beyond that, he, like the police at the time, had no idea who these persons were. A few days later, two men returned, and one of them shot him dead. Following thorough investigative work, this British individual was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005. Most other individuals involved did not evade punishment either; sentences of up to eight years were eventually imposed.
Ongoing doubts
At the time, there was also an investigation into who ordered the murder. Despite various efforts, nothing came of it, which has weighed heavily on Meesters' family. It’s fair to say that, without the relentless urging of Gerard Meesters’ children, this case against the suspect likely would not have come to court. In this context, the role of crime journalist Rob Zijlstra of Dagblad van het Noorden also deserves mention.
Starting in 2016, contact resumed between the public prosecution and Meesters' children. This led to an official report being filed in 2017, prompting a reopened investigation. The children sought out the convicted gunman in prison, which provided new information. Recorded conversations between the gunman and an English investigative journalist also yielded new leads. With the journalist’s permission, these recordings were reviewed by police.
A drawn-out process
Meanwhile, the suspect faced trial in France for importing 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence in 2018. At the same time, multiple legal assistance requests were sent from the Netherlands to France and the UK, and various interviews were conducted with those involved. In 2021, the public prosecutors decided to prosecute the suspect, leading to the first public hearing in December of that year. This hearing sparked further investigations and ultimately a final interview with the investigating judge in February 2024, enabling the scheduling of trial dates.
Instigation
The suspect is charged with inciting the murder. Prosecutors describe him as the intellectual mastermind, meaning the killing would not have taken place without his involvement. The suspect allegedly led a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, of which the gunman was a member. The OM claims this is supported by various statements and wiretapped phone calls. “The suspect was in charge, and it was evident that as a member, you did what he said.”
Intimidation
Gerard Meesters had no connection to the criminal organization led by the suspect, according to the OM. He was killed solely to instill fear in others, a fact apparent from the case file. The suspect's subordinates were barely willing to speak, fearing for their own or their families’ safety. Those who disobeyed the boss were subjected to beatings or torture. For instance, one of the convicted co-defendants had their hands crushed with a hammer and was forced to drink his own urine.
Life imprisonment
Although the suspect has not previously been convicted of murder, the OM deems life imprisonment fitting, partly because the suspect has lived his entire life as a ruthless criminal, amassing significant wealth. “He is the leader of a criminal, violent organization. Another (higher) court has previously ruled that this organization also had the intention of committing life crimes.”
A horrific ordeal
Since 2002, Gerard Meesters’ relatives have been trapped in a horrific ordeal. They have witnessed how their completely innocent father was murdered by a criminal organization. It was a killing meant to terrify, similar to recent murders in the Netherlands of lawyer Derk Wiersum, journalist Peter R. de Vries, and a witness’s brother, carried out by ruthless criminals as acts of intimidation.
