Lawyer Holleeder stops

Franken has decided this after what he says "urgent advice" from the president of the Bar Association in Amsterdam. Franks does not agree with the arguments of the blanket, but professional ethics according brings him away to be followed an urgent advice of the blanket.

'Jumping Point'

The dean of the Amsterdam Bar Association, Pieter van Altena Regteren, confirmed to The Associated Press that he Franks gave the urgent advice to cease defending Holleeder. Franks following the complaint by the sisters of Holleeder himself asked him for advice, says the dean. Of Regteren Altena will not go into details about what he discussed with Franken, but confirms that Franken's earlier role as counsel Sandra den Hartog, the ex-girlfriend of Holleeder ,, the jumping point was. "

,, In general, the rule of conduct that you can not act against ex-clients. Who have entrusted you some information that makes it difficult to act against a former client. "

According to Van Altena Regteren is no exception that one of the blanket lawyer is advised not to take a case or not to proceed. The advice he gave Franken after the weekend. That the lawyer did not notice during the pretrial hearing in the case of Holleeder Tuesday, has to do with the fact that he did not have the opportunity to inform his client.

The sisters Holleeder (Sonja and Astrid) and Den Hartog have filed a complaint against Franks to the Bar Association. According to their lawyer Wout Morra's complaint about conflicts of interest. Franks Den Hartog namely defended until the moment they testified against Willem Holleeder.

"The decision to lay the defense is tough," stresses Franks. He and his defense team have ,, considered a special responsibility to Willem Holleeder legal '. Franken regret that he can not provide such assistance.

Holleeder is suspected of involved several assassinations and attempts. He is being prosecuted for his alleged role in inter alia criminal statements on Cor van Hout (2003), real estate magnate Willem Endstra (2004), Kees Houtman (2005), Thomas van der Bijl (2006) and also the assassination of John Mieremet 2005 and attempted suicide in 2002.

Tuesday was the prosecution announced that it is investigating whether Holleeder would have had plans the final months of last year to murder his two sisters Astrid and Sonja and crime reporter Peter R. de Vries. His sisters declared incriminating him.

"Incorrect facts'

Franks and his team are confident that they Holleeder could defend in a good way. They do not get that opportunity ,, is seen as a defeat and as a capitulation to the pressure that is based '' on incorrect facts.

Franks also announced that he should also experience personally that it is difficult to respond to misperceptions ,, where falsehoods as facts are presented. ' Due to its confidentiality, he can not go there on in.

By Editorial Telegraaf.nl/ Photo: Reuters