Dutch Motorcyclist Who Killed Amir Gets Community Service, No Jail Time

240 hours of community service, and no prison time. The Midden-Nederland District Court delivered its verdict on Wednesday, October 7, in the case of Amir’s death. The 18-year-old was struck by a motorcyclist at an illegal gathering in Lelystad. The driver, a 32-year-old man from Schiedam, thus avoids the eight months in prison sought by prosecutors. Even his one-year driving ban was suspended.

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The decision rests on an important distinction. The judges found that the motorcyclist caused Amir’s death through dangerous driving, but that he had not shown the “recklessness” cited by the prosecution. He was riding on the wrong side of the road when he struck the young man, but was not exceeding the speed limit. The court also noted that he had stopped his stunts earlier that day, deeming the crowd too large.

That does not erase his responsibility. On June 2, 2024, several hundred people had gathered on Karperweg to watch motorcycle stunts. Collisions had already occurred when the driver resumed his skids, taking up almost the entire width of the road. Amir, who was riding toward him on a dirt bike, could not avoid the collision. He died in hospital two days later.

37,500 euros for Amir’s parents

At the hearing, the young man’s father said his son had been planning to get married. Since his death, his bedroom had been left just as he had left it. His mother also described the impact of his death on the whole family. Two years after the tragedy, his parents were seeking compensation, including for expenses incurred for the funeral in Morocco.

In its ruling, the court awarded 20,000 euros to the father and 17,500 euros to the mother for emotional distress. Other expenses, including travel to Morocco and the funeral, were not compensated in this proceeding because there was insufficient supporting documentation.

The judges also rejected the defense’s attempt to assign part of the blame to Amir. The young man was riding on his right-hand side. The rules improvised by the gathering’s organizers could not replace the Highway Code.

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The driver said he had permanently stopped performing motorcycle stunts and sold his bikes. His arm injuries, psychological aftereffects and lack of similar convictions also weighed in the decision. He will remain subject to a suspended driving ban for two years.

The second defendant, a 36-year-old man suspected of having signaled the start of the fatal maneuver, was acquitted. The court could not establish that he had in fact given the signal.