Six men have been jailed for between 10 and 28 years for their role in the murder of television crime show journalist Peter R de Vries, while three others were found not guilty because of a lack of evidence.

Shooter Delano G and driver Kamil E both were given 28 years, while Krystian M, who organised the killing was jailed for 26 years, on top of an earlier sentence of four.

A fourth man, Konrad W, who provided the weapons was sentenced to 14 years in jail and Erickson O and Gerower M were both found guilty of having a “considerable role” in the killing and were jailed for 10 years. They filmed the aftermath of the shooting and placed it online.

Three others, Ludgardo S, Divainy K and Christopher W, were found not guilty by the judges at the high security Osdorp court, which was packed with press and members of the public.

The public prosecution department had called for life sentences for the three main suspects, but the court said this would not be appropriate as they did not have earlier convictions for manslaughter or murder.

The court ruled it is still unclear if De Vries was killed for his role as a confidant to the crown witness in the Marengo gangland trial, but the killing had been well prepared. The location where De Vries was shot dead had been checked out and the presenter was followed in a car fitted with false plates.

De Vries was shot in July 2021 after leaving a television studio in the centre of the Dutch capital. He died in hospital nine days later.

The prosecution department had charged five of the suspects with murder with a terrorist intent, but this was not proven, the court said. “Dutch society has been seriously shaken by the murder. But that does not mean terrorist intent,” the court said.

This was because the court, the ruling stated, was unable to establish if the killing had instilled “serious fear among the wider population” that anyone could be the next victim.

Nevertheless, De Vries’ son Royce, daughter Kelly and ex-wife Jacqueline who were also present for the verdict have been caused “irreparable and indescribable suffering”, the judge said.