British man is arrested over murder of Dutch former criminal-turned-crime reporter who was shot dead as they left a sex club together
- Martin Kok, 49, was shot dead on December 8, when he left a sex club
- A British national, identified as Chris H., has been arrested
- Kok turned to writing after serving 15 years in jail after two murder convictions
- The writer in the past said 'he knew he was a target' because of his stories'
- Mourners had to walk through metal detection gates at Kok's funeral earlier this month amid fears of gangland recriminations
A British man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a former convict who turned into a successful crime reporter.
Martin Kok, 49, was shot dead on Thursday, December 8, when he left a sex club in the town of Laren in the Netherlands.
The British national, who has only been identified as Chris H. due to privacy laws, left the building with Kok but fled the scene after shots were fired.
Martin Kok was shot dead on December 8 as he left a sex club in the town of Laren in the Netherlands
Mourners had to walk through metal detection gates at Kok's funeral earlier this month amid fears of gangland recriminations
He has now been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the murder, but his lawyer, Maarten Pijnenburg, said the Briton only ran because 'he was scared to death'.
Pijnenburg said: 'He immediately walked off the premises. He found it unsafe. My client was totally disoriented, he never has gone through something like this before.'
The British employee of a phone company, who police say also goes by the name of Scotty, reported the murder a day later to the police. Officers are said to find it 'suspect' that he 'walked away so calmly.'
His crime blog is one of the most popular in the Netherlands, and the writer in the past said 'he knew he was a target from criminals because of his stories', but he did not shy away from covering them
In July a bomb was planted under Kok's car, which was only discovered seconds before he was about to get into the vehicle
Police confirmed Chris has been released on bail and remains a suspect.
Kok, a former criminal who was convicted twice on murder charges, turned to writing after 15 years in jail.
He specialised in crime scoops thanks to his inside knowledge, network and fearless attitude.
His crime blog is one of the most popular in the Netherlands, and the writer in the past said 'he knew he was a target from criminals because of his stories', but he did not shy away from covering them.
Attempts on his life had been made before the final fatal shooting.
Last year two shooters rained bullets down on his car when he was asleep in his house and in July a bomb was planted under his car which was only discovered seconds before he was about to get inside the vehicle.
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