Silence from Efe Y. Persists as Court Demands Answers
The criminal investigation into the fatal shooting of two Syrian teenagers on January 1 in Amsterdam’s Piet Wiedijkpark remains active as the court criticizes the suspect for offering minimal cooperation.
The 25-year-old suspect, identified as Efe Y., continues to invoke his right to remain silent regarding the attack that killed 16-year-old Mohammad Nor and 18-year-old Mohammed Al Mukrasi. Both victims resided in a COA facility.
Psychiatric Evaluation and the Pieter Baan Centrum
Defense attorney Henk Koopman states that his client maintains he is of unsound mind and anticipates receiving an order for placement in a custodial clinic (tbs met dwangverpleging) rather than a traditional prison sentence.
Y. resided in the Pieter Baan Centrum until August 20. The official expert report is still pending, delaying further progress in the courtroom.
A Deadly Escalation Stemming From a YouTuber Prank
The Public Prosecution Service previously noted that the victims simply happened to be in “the wrong time and the wrong place.”
Authorities arrested Y. weeks after the shooting following an altercation earlier that day with a YouTuber involving a prank call that escalated out of hand, prompting Y. to discharge a firearm in the park. Investigators emphasize that the teenage victims had no connection whatsoever to that dispute.
Circumstantial Proof and Digital Forensics
Prosecutors base their murder charges on multiple pieces of circumstantial and digital evidence.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, a witness stated that Y. confessed to the killings the day after the shooting, specifically mentioning a third person who managed to escape. Prosecutors argue only the perpetrator could have known about a third person targeted during the incident.
Phone Records and Missing Weapons
Additional evidence includes text message exchanges where Y. allegedly told a witness he intended to “shooten” men, alongside surveillance camera footage placing the suspect near the crime scene.
A forensic examination of Y.’s mobile phone revealed a library of 5,354 stored images depicting firearms, ammunition, and knives, alongside saved screenshots of media reports covering the double homicide. Investigators are working to determine whether Y. captured any of the weapon photos himself.
Alibi Claims and the Upcoming December Hearing
Contradicting the prosecution’s timeline and surveillance evidence, the defense maintains that Y. was visiting his grandmother, who lives near the Piet Wiedijkpark, rather than committing the shooting. The actual murder weapon remains missing.
The case is scheduled to resume in December. The families of Mohammad Nor and Mohammed Al Mukrasi hope to follow the proceedings from Syria via a video connection.
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