WILLEMSTAD – The legal defense team for Urvin 'Nuto' Wawoe launched a forceful counterargument in the final phase of the Themis mega-trial, criticizing the prosecution's demand for a life sentence as unjustified and lacking in concrete evidence. According to attorneys Alicia Blonk, Laura Versluis, and Johan Mühren, there is no proof that Wawoe either ordered murders or led the alleged criminal organization No Limit Soldiers (NLS).
They described the Public Prosecution’s conclusions as “unsustainable, built on suggestions, assumptions, and vague connections.”
The lawyers argued that the tone used by prosecutors was unnecessarily harsh and that the presentation of the facts in the high-profile case was misleading. “If you collect separate puzzle pieces without a clear starting point—such as a concrete order or direct involvement—you end up creating a narrative that you’ve constructed yourself,” the defense stated during the hearing.
No Evidence of Direct Orders or Communication
The defense pointed out that the prosecution failed to provide any direct evidence linking Wawoe to communication with the perpetrators before the arrests, despite repeated references to mobile phone use. “The police imply contact with the outside world, but there is no actual proof. It's mentioned in the case file, but it simply isn't there,” said the attorneys.
They also criticized the merging of several unrelated criminal files into one large case. “By linking separate legal matters together, a presumption of guilt is created, which has kept our client in a state of uncertainty for ten years,” they argued.
Call for Reflection and Reform
The defense team concluded by calling for reflection and reform, regardless of the court's final verdict. They urged the Public Prosecution to engage with all parties involved to evaluate how such extensive and complex cases are handled in the future. “We are not seeking vengeance or escalation. We want people to be able to move on with their lives,” the lawyers stated.
The case is entering its final stages, with Wawoe expected to deliver his closing remarks next. The verdict is expected to have far-reaching implications for justice and organized crime investigations in the Dutch Caribbean.
