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 case will be outlined and discussed with Brech.
On October 5, experts will be heard including those who will give their opinion about Brech’s mental state.
October 7 and 8 are reserved for victim family impact statements and other witnesses.
On October 8, the prosecution will inform the court of the sentence that they seek for Brech.
A verdict is anticipated to come in November 2020.
Forensics
According to the prosecution, Brech kidnapped Nicky. He then abused and suffocated him to draw attention away from the abuse. Brech denies everything and has not explained how his DNA came to be on Nicky’s clothes and body. The defense says that the prosecution cannot prove either kidnapping, sexual abuse, or murder.
As to Nicky’s exact cause of death, there are two theories: suffocation or strangulation. Neither is clear and neither can be proven beyond any doubt.
As for DNA, 27 traces were found and according to experts that hints at long, intense contact and not at a casual or short lived contact. The traces include skin, saliva, and 2 hairs including dander found on Nicky’s underwear and body.
The article said that Brech has not explained how his hairs got on Nicky. However, the paper hints that the explanation for this, a statement, is in a safe. I will keep following this and update/clarify as soon as I have more information.
The Case
On Aug 10, 1998 Nicky Verstappen (March 13, 1987 – Aug 10, 1998) disappeared from a summer camp organised by local youth groups at Brunssummerheide, Limburg, the Netherlands.
The night before he went missing, all camp activities ended at 10pm. Then the kids went back to their tents and it was lights out. Nicky (11) was last seen around the tent he shared with other kids at 5am. Three hours later he was gone.
On Aug 22, 2018 Dutch Police announced a breakthrough: they got DNA off Nicky’s clothes. With familial DNA searches they narrowed down the group of suspects and zoomed in on Jos Brech. He officially became the suspect. A national and international APB were issued as Brech went missing. His family told police Brech went hiking in the Vosges, France. He was arrested Aug 26, 2018 in Northern Spain. Madrid High Court judges decided on Aug 27, 2018 to extradite Brech (55) to the Netherlands.
On Dec 12, 2018, an initial hearing took place. Brech denies abusing, kidnapping, and the murder of Nicky Verstappen. Covid19 delayed the case.
If you have any information that can help contact the Dutch Police at these numbers: from the Netherlands: 0900-8844 and when calling from abroad: +31 34 357 88 44.