The ruling came following almost six years and 142 court days. There are seventeen suspects in total. The ruling is still pending.
According to the judge, Taghi was said to have been responsible for the murder of Ronald Bakker, just as he was said to have been responsible for the deaths of Samir Erreghib and Hakim Changachi.
According to the judge, he also arranged everything for the murder of Ranko Scekic. Taghi and R. felt that they had not had a fair trial. The judge rejected that. The court ruled on the basis of the file, the judge said. Taghi was also convicted of leading a murder organization. “This is a world where a human life is worthless,” the judge said.
Murders during trial
The case involved six murders and several murder attempts, but the most notable were the three murders that occurred during the trial. A week following it became known in early 2018 that the Public Prosecution Service had a key witness in the case, his brother was shot dead. In September 2019, key witness Nabil B.’s lawyer Derk Wiersum was murdered and in July 2021 his confidant Peter R. de Vries.
“No fewer than three murders that appear to have been a direct result of Marengo,” says reporter Eelco Hiltermann, who followed the case for RTL News. “In all respects it was a unique case in Dutch legal history.”
Safety precautions
The fact that it was a unique case was also evident from the verdict, which was read out anonymously. Hiltermann: “The judge’s voice was allowed to be recorded, but they were not allowed to be filmed. That is unique in the Netherlands and says something regarding the unprecedented security measures surrounding the Marengo trial.”
A lot happened during the case. In the video below we discuss the six biggest moments:
The lawyer of key witness Nabil B. called Marengo ‘the most sickened and poisoned trial ever’, partly due to the murders.
Nabil B.’s role in the process was very important, says reporter Hiltermann. “That is because he has given the Public Prosecution Service a lot of insight into the division of roles within this gang. But his statements are certainly not the only evidence. The Public Prosecution Service also has thousands of cracked messages from encrypted telephones. These messages are particularly important in the case once morest Taghi. evidence.”
Family response
A family member of key witness Nabil B. and his brother Reduan, who was shot dead, said: “Justice will never once more prevail in the Marengo trial. The trial has cost and destroyed lives. We will miss Reduan, Derk and Peter forever. “
“My family, I and many others have still lost our lives. I doubt whether the Public Prosecution Service has learned anything from this process. I have my heart set on long-term safety. Whether the Marengo process will not produce a fourth and fifth victim will receive. In that respect, the trial will always continue, whether a verdict has been delivered or not.”
A sentence of ten years was demanded once morest key witness B. A significant discount in exchange for the incriminating statements he made regarding his co-suspects.
Appeal
The criminal case will not be finished following the verdict, because it is almost certain that there will be an appeal. Reporter Hiltermann: “Given the major stakes in this case, there is a good chance that there will be an appeal. And that might once more be a case that will take years.”