De Showbizzmoord (showbiz murder): AVROTROS/NPO Radio 1 podcast series

Tomorrow, Dutch station AVROTROS/NPO Radio 1 will air the first episode of the podcast series De Showbizzmoord. Seven episodes will be broadcast. 

Link: https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/de-showbizzmoord

Dutch journalists Lammert de Bruin and Babs Assink investigated the mysterious death of Bart van der Laar. 

Record executive and producer Bart van der Laar was shot in his house in Hilversum, NL on November 10th, 1981. Three days later, he died from his wounds (see article posted on November 11th, 2016). He was involved in Carrere/CNR records in the late 1970s.  Luv' signed a 750.000 Dutch guilder deal with him in October 1979. He followed the ladies when they went on a memorable promo tour in Mexico in May 1980. The group received two gold records there (one for "Si, Que Si" (the Spanish version of "Ooh, Yes I Do") and another one for the 50.000 sales of their "True Luv" album in Holland). 

Luv' with their manager Pim ter Linde, record executive Bart van der Laar and the director of Discos Musart receiving gold records for True Luv' and Si, Que Si in Mexico - May 1980

Van der Laar later ran the short-lived TTR label with his partners Ruud Wijnands and German publisher Rolf Baierle. In addition to Luv', his artist roster included Francis Goya, Corry Konings, Babe, Benny Neyman and Lenny Kuhr. He co-wrote "Het is een wonder", the Dutch entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 performed by Linda Williams. This song reached the 9th position. A feud over the authorship of this track followed.

Bart van der Laar in 1981

After his murder, gay prostitute Martien Hunnik was arrested and convicted on the basis of a confession he made but later retracted. He was released from jail in the early 1990s. Van der Laar's death remained a mystery.  

Hunnik then tried to get hold of his file and when he was refused, his lawyer and the public prosecutor requested a new trial. It became apparent that Hunnik was probably innocent. Two people known to Van der Laar most likely killed him on the orders of a business partner. In addition, medical experts said that Hunnik was ‘very susceptible to suggestions’ and inclined to exaggerate at the time of his confession. 

In 2016, Martien Hunnik was acquitted. One year later, Netherlands Public Prosecution Service announced that he received damages and apologies from the State (see news posted on April 25th, 2017). A musical based on this showbiz murder was prepared by Janke Dekker Producties. But this project was cancelled. 

In April 2009, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee appeared on RTL 4's paranormal show "Het Zesde Zintuig" (the Sixth Sense) to tell their memories of the record producer. This TV program featured mediums who analysed the crime scene and felt that his assassination might be linked to his activities. A cold case team set up by the newspaper De Telegraaf investigated the homicide in 2010 and revealed contradictions. 

José and Marga interviewed by Beau van Erven Dorens on "Het Zesde Zintuig" (2009)

In late 2017, Peter van der Vorst's program "Onschuldig?!" on RTL 4 featured Marga and José discussing the Bart van der Laar's case (see news posted on November 1st, 2017). 

Marga and José on Onschuldig?!

Source: AVROTROS/NPO 1, Luv' weblog archives