A 27-year-old man has been jailed for 20 years in Morocco for his role in a double murder in Amsterdam two years ago.

Hamza B had faced the death penalty for killing two people in a gangland-related shooting in the west of the city at the end of December 2012.

Three suspects were involved in shooting at the car in which the two victims and another man were sitting. They also shot at police who gave chase. The two other suspects will go on trial in the Netherlands.

Hanza B has also been ordered to pay compensation of €18,000 to the victims and €11,000 to the police officers. The Moroccan public prosecutor is to appeal against the sentences.

The Dutch public prosecution department has welcomed the sentence and said it shows that escaping to Morocco if you have committed a crime in the Netherlands does not pay.