A young guy from Twente who sought and thought he would find love in Tunisiahas been in an ice-cold cell for nine years. Jessica Villerius wouldn’t beJessica Villerius if she didn’t get to the bottom of what was going on there.Because is it all right? Tonight you can see it in her documentary 2Doc: TheLast Word.
Of course, Jessica Villerius did not think of herself to investigate the dramasurrounding Jurriën ten Cate from Almelo, now 31 years old. It took aheartbreaking e-mail from his mother Trees. Just as naturally: Villerius wentto work thoroughly. We saw that earlier The Children of Ruinerwold. Thatdocumentary earned Jessica Villerius and the children who were long cut offfrom the outside world a Golden Televizier Ring (and previously 5 stars in_Subway_ s Look at the Tube ). In this section, Erik Jonk discusses strikingor new programs from regular broadcasters and streaming services. This time itis 2Doc: The Last Word.
How is/was the case of Tukker Jurriën?
It was digital love at first sight. The mildly autistic Jurriën went online tolook for love, and specifically searched for it on sites where Islamic womenmeet Western men. There he met the beautiful, smart Marwa. A lightning fastengagement followed and within a few months the marriage. But soon after theparty the first cracks appear; the atmosphere within the marriage is notexactly cheerful and there is no physical contact whatsoever. Never. For thewedding, when Jurriën travels to Tunisia five times, he has to book two hotelrooms each time. One for him, one for her. Oh yes, if he could also payMarwa’s college costs. And her new laptop.
When the Dutch IND rejects their request for a tourist visa, so that Marwa isnot allowed to travel to the Netherlands, the bomb explodes. On December 27,2013, the young couple get into a fight in a Tunisian hotel room in Hammametand Marwa ends up on the hotel’s doorstep after falling from three floors. Wasit suicide, a fall, a push, or was Marwa thrown down over the balustrade byJurrien? Justice is certain: Jurrien is guilty. There is hardly any evidenceand the statements are rattling – as the documentary by Jessica Villeriusteaches us – but the then 22-year-old suspect from Almelo is still convicted.He will receive twenty years in prison and will only have half of it by theend of next year. You understand: a prison in Tunisia is not a hotel. In thecell of the Twente native it is between 3 and 5 degrees at night. Harrowing:his name has not been Jurriën for years, but prisoner PH4300.
The critical eye of Jessica Villerius
Such a story is grist to the mill of filmmaker Jessica Villerius. Shecritically examined the conviction of her compatriot. Villerius and her teamtraveled to Tunisia to get answers. Answers to questions such as who Marwawas, what the possible scenarios were, whether there is tunnel vision in theTunisian criminal investigation department. And how much value can be attachedto the last words that Marwa would have spoken.
Documentary maker JessciaVillerius. Photo: Alex
Jessica Villerius herself on ‘the case’ and 2Doc: The Last Word : “On May 2,2017 I received a heartbreaking email from Jurriën’s mother. Would I pleaselook into her son’s case. We are now more than 5.5 years further and I’m sure;something went horribly wrong here. In case of an unnatural death, there arealways three scenarios to investigate: murder, suicide or an accident. In thecase of Marwa’s death, it now appears that only the scenario of murder hasbeen investigated, so that Jurriën had no chance before the trial evenstarted.”
Head like an earwig
Of course, as TV viewers, we don’t have to take everything for granted thatJessica Villerius tells us via the tube. But it is clear that she worksthoroughly. She gives the floor, among others, to the aforementioned motherTrees, stepfather Erik, Jurriën’s brother Karsten and sister Marin. But alsothe other side. An aunt speaks on behalf of Marwa’s family.
The Dutch branch, incidentally, ignored the wedding in Tunisia. They did notwant Marwa’s family to get the impression that the marriage was agreed. MotherTrees didn’t like it right away: “I warned Jurrien immediately. I said ‘becareful, maybe she won’t marry you because she loves you so much. Postponeit’. No, it didn’t feel right.” Trees also realized that she could not tie a22-year-old child to the chair legs. About that wedding another specialcontradiction. Sister Marin saw images: “Marwa walked around with a head likean earwig. That didn’t look good.” Marwa’s aunt saw ‘a partying woman withopen eyes’.
Jessica Villerius was not allowed to see Jurrien
Meeting Jurriën in prison. That was Jessica Villerius’s wish, but it has notcome true to date. Requests to visit him were always refused or ignoredaltogether. The documentary maker has to make do with letters from theprisoner. He has been sending it since 2015 and in it he also answers criticalquestions. In Villerius’ search we also see two of Jurriën’s lawyers, oneDutch and one Tunisian. The Dutch lawyer calls the trace investigation of 2013scanty. “Or just say shit.”
Whether Jessica Villerius goes a few steps further or even gets to the truth?We are not going to tell that about the documentary of more than 50 minutes,of course. We can reveal, however, that she finds a series of research errorsand illogical decisions. Villerius sees doubts, but especially losers and alot of sadness. 2Doc: The Last Word is at the very least extensive andintriguing. As impressive as The Children of Ruinerwold this production isnot. But it’s hardly fair anymore to ever compare anything from JessicaVillerius’ hand to that title.
2Doc: The Last Word can be seen tonight at 8.25 pm at BNNVARA on NPO 2. Youcan also watch via the documentary section of BNNVARA.