Maastricht - Four of the seven suspects in the manslaughter of Fer Loontjes, carnival Sunday in a Geleen café, are also suspected of involvement in an aggravated assault on the Markt in Geleen in June last year.This emerged yesterday during a pro forma hearing at the court in Maastricht. Public prosecutor Anneke Rogier stated that Stephan P. (32), Rick D. (22), Paul S. (22) and Anthony P. (26), together with three others, are suspected of having assaulted two men on the night of June 9-10, 2007. As part of this case, Anthony P. was remanded in custody after he was released from prison in the "Loontjes case. According to his lawyer Francoise Landerloo, after being on the run for several weeks, he turned himself in to the police on Monday. One of the victims of the assault last year had to be transported to a hospital in comatose condition. In addition, the prosecution still suspects at least Paul S. of involvement in three "minor" violent crimes last year. These are the assault of a motorist in April 2007, open violence in a café in August and an assault in November. The latter case also allegedly involved Stephan P., prime suspect in the Loontjes case. Officer Rogier suggested to the court that all five cases be tried at the same time. "At the end of the day, these are similar facts," she said.

The lawyer for the defendant in question vehemently opposed this. Peer Szymkowiak, counsel for Stephan P., argued that the prosecution was "just trying to get my client as hard as possible, now that the prosecution has him for once. The court also felt that the prosecution should first subpoena the suspects in those other cases, said chairman Evert Krol: "Then we'll see."

Among other things, the court decided to hold a "viewing" at the scene of the crime. This means that the judges and the other participants in the trial will visit the café 't Vlaegelke on the Markt in Geleen, where Fer Loontjes was beaten so badly that he died almost two weeks later.

The seventh suspect is still a fugitive, but "is on alert," asud Rogier, who assumes he could stand trial at the same time as the others. Lawyers Arthur Vonken and Serge Weening asked the court to release their clients Barry H. (26) and Paul S., but those requests were denied. The case continues on Aug. 13, but again it will not come to a substantive hearing. That is scheduled for October.

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