A court in Groningen has sentenced 52-year-old Robert D. to life in prison for orchestrating the 2002 murder of Gerard Meesters. The sentencing comes after D. was convicted of ordering the murder as a retaliation for Meesters’ sister’s involvement in stealing hashish from D. with a friend. The crime, which took place on November 28, 2002, saw Meesters shot eight times in his home in Groningen.
D., a notorious figure in the international drug trade, denied any involvement in the murder. However, the court ruled based on statements from convicted shooter Daniel S. and intercepted phone conversations. Daniel S., a United Kingdom national, carried out the murder under D.’s orders and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006.
Meesters’ children were present at the court’s verdict, expressing gratitude towards the prosecutor. D. remains adamant about his innocence and plans to appeal the decision.
D. had been arrested in 2015 in Benalmadena, Spain, for his involvement in drug trafficking, leading to his extradition to France. He is currently serving a 22-year sentence for his role in importing 1,300 kilos of cocaine. Despite his absence in court, the judge described the murder as “cold-blooded” and “ruthless.”
