Possible connection to murder in 1996
de Volkskrant, front page, 8 May 2002
Van onze verslaggeefster
The Noord- en Oost-Gelderland police are investigating whethe the attack on Pim Fortuyn is connected with a murder of an environmental official in 1996. Nunspeet. This murder is unsolved. The official was shot shortly before Christmas.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the 32 year old Volkert van der Graaft worked for Vereniging Milieu-Offensief (VMO/Environmental Offensive Organization) in Wageningen and is suspected in the murder of Fortuyn. Five years ago, VMO was brought in connection to the murder of Chris van de Werken, a 43 year old official of the environmental organization. This connection is not proven. The police will not say what evidence brought the VMO in suspicion.
After the name of Van de G. was released, the police receive reports about the possible connection of the VMO to the murder in 1996. The police took notice of this report, which is officially unsolved.
'The murder of Fortuyn heeft de gevoelens van destijds weer naar boven gebracht', said the speaker for the police corps. Maar het is volgens hem nog te vroeg om conclusies te trekken. 'Uiteraard is de aandacht nu op Fortuyn gericht. Our research team will make contact in a later phase with their colleagues in Hilversum. '
The LPF-listleader was hit by five bullets: two in the rug, one in the neck and two in the voorhoofd. Dat heeft sectie uitgewezen, zei korpschef M. Berndsen van de politieregio Gooi- en Vechtstreek.
The suspect could be captured in that the suspect was followed by four men. He had a firearm in his possession.
In a search of his residence in Harderwijk, ammunition was found of the same caliber as the shells found at the murder scene, said the high officer of the Justice Department G. Hofstee. The suspect had no previous record, was making no statements. His given his name.
Justice won't confirm that the suspect is Volkert van der G., only that the suspect lives in Harderwijk and had environment activist material in his possession.
Volgens Hofstee is een 'huisgenoot' gehoord als getuige. It probably refers to the wife of Van der G. They recently had a child.
The Amsterdam lawyer B. Böhler, who among others defended Kurdist (terrorist) leader, was named as the lawyer for Van der G. Yesterday evening, he wouldn't make any comment.