(de Ware Tijd) BOXEL – No sentence will be demanded yet against the main suspect in the December murders trial Desi Bouterse. Military prosecutor Roy Elgin wants to wait with this until all suspects and witnesses in both the military and civilian trials have been heard. Yesterday, proceedings against Bouterse were wrapped up in the court building at Boxel after the examination of Dutch witness Peter van Haperen. Elgin pointed out that although the cases against the suspects have been treated separately, they are all facing the same charge, namely that they jointly and in association killed 15 men on 8 December 1982. Bouterse has never appeared in court since the court-martial against him started in November 2007. His lawyer Irvin Kanhai always came up with special reasons why his client could not show up. Bouterse had made statements to the examining judge during the judicial preliminary investigation. Now all cases in the civilian court are wrapped up and ready for summations. Besides Bouterse, Arthy Gorré, Etienne Boerenveen and Jimmy Stolk appeared before a civilian court consisting of three judges. They too are waiting for a demand by the military prosecutor.
