A Dutch lawyer in a high-profile case against a group of men charged with a series of drug-related killings was shot dead in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning ,police said.
The victim was identified as 44 -year-old Derk Wiersum a defence lawyer for Nabil Bakkali ,a crown witness in the case against 16 men accussed of murders and one attempted murder in the Netherlands between 2015 and 2017 .
The killing of Wiersum ,a father and long term criminal lawyer in Amsterdam ,has sent shockwaves through the city and its Justice system.
Police said they were searching for a youth aged between 16 and 20 ,who ran away after the shooting ,which took place shortly after 7:30am local time (05:30 Gmt)
Bakkali is among those accussed in the case ,which is likely to go to trial next year ,but has since 2017 provided police with over 1,500 pages of statements against the group in return for a lower sentence ,preliminary court proceeding have shown .
His brother ,who is a a police say had nothing to do with the gang or the murder was killed at his workplace last year ,a week after justice authorities said Bakkali was their crown witness.
The prime suspect in the case is 41-year -Old Ridouan Taghi ,who remains at large.Through his lawyer ,Taghi has denied all accusations.
Other suspects ,11 of whom are in custody ,have remained silent throughout the case.
Femka Halsema ,the mayor of Amsterdam ,called the killing an (unprecedented attack on the legal profession that effects the essence of the rule of war".
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