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17 February 2004
AMSTERDAM — The trial of the 18-year-old man accused of murdering Nijmegen teenager Maja Bradaric was adjourned for three months on Wednesday to await the outcome of a psychiatric assessment of the suspect.
The pubic prosecutor (OM) requested the Arnhem Court adjourn the case because main suspect Goran M. will be transferred on Thursday to the Utrecht-based observation centre Pieter Baan Centrum (PBC).
The prosecution also said that inquiries into the strangling death of the 16-year-old Bradaric — whose body was dumped near the astern city of Nijmegen on 18 November and set alight — are not yet finished.
Particularly questions about the role of co-accused 16-year-old Goran P. — who claims he had no prior knowledge of the murder plans — still need answering, Dutch associated press ANP reported.
P. was allegedly in the car where the murder occurred, but lapsed into a state of shock due reportedly to war time trauma suffered in his country of origin, Bosnia. In a closed hearing on Wednesday, the court decided against releasing him from remand detention.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old co-accused Ferdi O. — who allegedly drove the car on the night of the murder — said on Wednesday he was frightened of M. and did not want to be detained in the same PBC wing.
O. was transferred to the PBC at the start of February and his lawyer requested the Arnhem Court on Monday to order M. be detained separately from the co-accused.
The court wants to handle the trial of M. and O. — who is accused of buying a jerry can of petrol to dousing Bradaric’s body — at the same time. Both of them have allegedly confessed and the case against M. will resume on 12 May.
The motive of the murder remains unclear, but it is suspected that M. drew offence to Bradaric’s alleged gossiping and backbiting, news agency nu.nl reported.
The 15-year-old Nina K. — who was released from custody on 6 December — must also face court at a date not yet known. She is accused of failing to inform police about the murder plans of her boyfriend M., the main suspect.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
Subject: Dutch news