Crown witness Nabil B from the Netherlands. is trying to build a new life, but the threat surrounding him remains. With the closing arguments from his lawyer Peter Schouten, his own case within the Marengo trial is nearing its next conclusion. The lawyer warns that his client will remain a "hunted man to his grave."
The AD reported this in an article on October 1st. Almost ten years after B. decided to talk to the police about Ridouan Taghi's organization, the consequences of that choice continue to dictate his life. His statements made him a central figure in the massive assassination trial.
According to Bladna.nl: "Free but still in danger: crown witness Nabil B. leaves prison." The Amsterdam Court of Appeal suspended his pre-trial detention on September 9, 2025, after he had been incarcerated for over eight years. That decision was closely tied to the agreements he made with the justice department. In exchange for truthful statements, the Public Prosecution Service would request a reduced sentence in his own criminal case.
The court had previously sentenced B. to ten years in prison. In suspending his detention, the Court of Appeal heavily weighed the fact that, upon making the deal, he was led to expect an actual prison term of eight years. This expectation was subsequently confirmed by the sentencing demand and the initial verdict. At the same time, the court's official decision made it clear that the criminal case was not closed. The pre-trial detention was suspended, not lifted entirely. Furthermore, the court warned that this decision offered no guarantee that a later sentence would not result in imprisonment once again.
Three murders define the background of his new life. During his imprisonment, three people from his inner circle were murdered: his brother Reduan, his lawyer Derk Wiersum, and his confidant Peter R. de Vries. The court explicitly mentioned these losses when considering his release. Because of this, the protection of B. and his loved ones has been a crucial part of the aftermath of the Marengo trial for years.
Regarding the safety of his family, the court in The Hague ruled this summer that the State had failed to provide adequate protection around the announcement of the crown witness deal in March 2018. This violated the right to life, as established in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court made a distinction between making the deal and implementing the protection. The justice department was allowed to enter into the agreement, but did not make enough effort to protect the family members when it was made public. Against this background, Schouten's warning carries extra weight: building a new life does not mean the end of safety concerns for his client.