Amsterdam Shooting: Key Suspect Absent as Trial Begins for Mehdi Rebroub’s Death
The trial for the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Mehdi Rebroub has commenced in Amsterdam, with one of the key suspects notably absent. Rebroub, a Moroccan-born kickboxer who had been living in the Netherlands for a few years and working as a doorman, was killed during the incident.
Four suspects were arrested in October, including the primary suspect, 23-year-old Yassine El M., who is accused of firing the fatal shot. El M. was not present in the courtroom today. The other three suspects—19-year-old Badardin H., Furkan K., and Faruk E.—were present.
Prosecutors believe Rebroub and his friends were targeted by the group in an attempted robbery, specifically for a watch. Rebroub had been warned and did not have the watch with him. He accompanied his friend as " Backup" to explain the situation to the group.
The investigation relied heavily on intercepted phone calls, prison conversations, and a recorded conversation between El M. and E. in a Volkswagen Polo. In that conversation, they discuss a Snapchat message containing a photo of the crime scene, suggesting they feared being exposed. E. remarks, "Those guns are stashed at my place. That message came to you because they know you pulled the trigger." El M. confirms this and later admits, "He lured him [Rebroub], and I shot him."
Defense attorneys argue that the conversations also implicate Rebroub in having a weapon first. However, the prosecutor insists that forensic evidence confirms Rebroub was not the shooter. The families of the suspects and Rebroub attended the hearing, with some becoming emotional as details were discussed.
All four defense attorneys requested bail for their clients, but the judge denied the requests. The next hearing is scheduled for March 18.
