Fourth teen arrested in linesman death

Dutch police said Friday they had arrested a fourth teenager in connection with the shocking beating to death of a football linesman.

Dutch police said Friday they had arrested a fourth teenager in connection with the shocking beating to death of a football linesman.

Published Dec 7, 2012

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The Hague – Dutch police said Friday they had arrested a fourth teenager in connection with the shocking beating to death of a football linesman.

The 16-year-old from Amsterdam was arrested on Thursday evening, police said, meaning two 15-year-olds and two 16-years-olds are now in custody for the fatal beating.

A team of 20 police is investigating Sunday's assault by amateur players from Amsterdam club Nieuw Sloten on Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, of the Buitenboys club in neighbouring Almere, police said.

Police said they had interviewed around 10 witnesses and that there may be more arrests. They appealed for anyone who might have filmed or photographed the attack on the assistant referee to come forward.

On Thursday, a Dutch judge remanded in custody the three teens arrested at their Amsterdam homes on Monday for two more weeks.

The three appeared before a judge following the amateur game attack that has shocked football-mad Netherlands, where some 1.2

million people out of a population of 16.5 million are members of national football federation KNVB.

The teens, who are being held at a youth detention centre whose location is being kept secret, face charges of manslaughter, assault and public violence.

If convicted, the two 15 year olds would serve a maximum sentence of one year in a youth prison.

The 16 year olds could be jailed for a maximum two years, unless judges rule that they should be tried as adults and face a stiffer penalty.

The precise charges will be refined based on the results of an investigation by police and prosecutors.

The murder prompted Dutch football federation KNVB to call off all 33,000 of this weekend's amateur matches. Professionals held a minute's silence and players wore black armbands during their matches. – Sapa-AFP

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