Release of Fortuyn Murderer on 2 May
THE HAGUE, 26/03/14 - Volkert van der Graaf, the murderer of Pim Fortuyn, is due to be released on 2 May, Justice State Secretary Fred Teeven announced Wednesday. The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) states that there are no grounds for postponing his conditional release. According to Teeven, the OM’s conclusion is extensively substantiated and explained. Van der Graaf is not subject to any psychological disturbances. The risk of him committing another murder is extremely small. Additionally, trial leave that he has been given to date has been problem-free, the OM says. There are however conditions attached to Van der Graaf's release. Fore example, he has to report weekly and is not allowed to enter the neighbourhood of relatives of Fortuyn. Nor can he enter The Hague, Rotterdam and Hilversum municipalities. This will be monitored by GPS. Further, contact with the media is not allowed. Finally, Van der Graaf must be under the guidance of a psychologist or psychiatrist. On 6 May 2002, the environmental activist shot Fortuyn dead with six bullets fired at close range, in the car-park of the Media Centre in Hilversum. At that point in time, polls indicated his Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) would become the biggest party in the elections nine days later. The murderer was sentenced to 18 years in jail. He will be released in May because he has served two-thirds of his sentence. He has been going on monthly trial leave since end-January. Marten Fortuyn, the brother of Pim Fortuyn, would meet Van der Graaf. “He has a contact ban with us. But if he indicates he would like to speak with me, I am open to this. I would very much like to know why he murdered my brother, in a sincere and honest conversation. Right up to today, I do not know (the answer).” |