THE HAGUE - The presiding judge of the Dutch Court of Appeal on Tuesday made a direct and emotional appeal to Delano Geerman (26) — the suspected gunman in the murder of journalist Peter R. de Vries — to finally break his silence. The judge warned that his continued refusal to speak paints a “pitch-black image” of his character.

The court noted that the picture of what truly happened remains incomplete as long as Geerman continues to withhold his testimony. “I refuse to believe that people are only evil through and through,” the judge told him. “You can take a wrong turn — and then another, and another — until there’s no way back.”

Addressing the consequences of Geerman’s silence, the presiding judge added: “Do you accept that your silence leaves many questions unanswered? That has consequences — for you, for your family, and for the relatives of the victim.”

Before adjourning, the judge concluded with a personal appeal: “These are important questions I leave with you. Tomorrow, I will return to this, with one final question: is there anything you would still like to say?”

Chat Messages Show Ruthlessness

According to prosecutors, chat messages recovered from Geerman’s phone reveal a chilling lack of remorse. The messages allegedly show that he made the decision to carry out the killing shortly before the attack, possibly on the very same day. “They reflect ruthlessness,” said the prosecution, “as if he was pleased with how it ended and showed complete disrespect toward the victim.”

Geerman was previously sentenced to 28 years in prison by a lower court, after prosecutors had demanded a life sentence. The appeal hearings — involving Geerman and eight co-defendants — continue this week, with the new sentencing demands expected to be announced on Thursday.

The murder of Peter R. de Vries in 2021 shocked the Netherlands and the world, marking one of the most high-profile attacks on a journalist in recent history.