No knife was found hidden in the grave of Jaqueline Wittenberg – known as ‘the Wittenberg widow’ – when the headstone was removed by forensic experts today, the Volkskrant reported this evening.

The Public Prosecution Department was ordered to remove the headstone following a court case brought by the man jailed for killing her – who claims that the murder weapon had been placed under the headstone.
Ernst Louwes, the victim’s financial advisor and executor of her will, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. Louwes has always maintained his innocence despite compelling trace evidence and mobile phone records. He is being backed in his campaign by opinion pollster, Maurice de Hond, who has generated a great deal of publicity on his behalf in recent months.
Louwes alleges the real murderer may have put the knife used to kill the widow inside the grave. Metal detectors have reportedly indicated there could well be something there and eye witnesses claim to have seen someone placing a small bag under the headstone.
The public prosecution service told NOS TV that the court had given the go-ahead for the search because of all the media fuss.