The high-profile trial against Bill Gates, Mark Rutte and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has failed – not on the content, but due to a fatal procedural error by the lawyers. The trial, which began as a groundbreaking legal dispute against Corona policy, ended with a sobering defeat before the Leeuwarden District Court.

On August 20, 2025, Judge Werkema dismissed the entire lawsuit by Arno van Kessel and Peter Stassen, not due to lack of evidence or weak argumentation, but because of a fundamental procedural error.

The Procedural Error: A Decisive Blunder#

The two Dutch lawyers had “turned the procedural rules upside down,” as the court found. They started the main proceedings without first applying for the required pre-trial witness examination – a mandatory step under Dutch law since January 1, 2025.

This error was so serious that it made the entire lawsuit inadmissible. A technical error that experienced lawyers should have avoided ended the most promising court case for Corona policy accountability.

The Irony of Success#

Paradoxically, the trial was about to make legal history. In October 2024, Bill Gates had tried to escape Dutch jurisdiction – and lost.

The court ordered him to pay 1,406 euros in legal costs to the plaintiffs and to face the proceedings. “It was a David-versus-Goliath moment: A Dutch court forced one of the world’s most powerful men to answer in court,” an observer noted.

The Mysterious Case of Arno van Kessel#

The story becomes even more bizarre when considering the timing of van Kessel’s arrest. On June 11, 2025, one day after filing his 52-page rejoinder, a 15-member special team stormed his apartment early in the morning.

The Arrest in Detail:#

  • Van Kessel was blindfolded and handcuffed
  • His wife and daughter were briefly held at gunpoint
  • The charge: “Anti-institutional activities” and membership in a “criminal network”

Van Kessel has since been sitting in the high-security prison Vught – the same facility where war criminals were once housed. His law license was revoked and his 30-year career ended.

“The timing is more than suspicious. One month before the crucial hearing, the main lawyer is eliminated,” an observer commented.

The Evidence: Explosive Allegations and Scientific Studies#

The documents submitted by van Kessel contained explosive allegations:

The “Killer Batch” EM0477#

  • 33 deaths in the Netherlands within 11 days
  • 105 death reports in France
  • Dozens of deaths in Germany
  • The batch was quietly withdrawn in February 2021

The Danish “Toxic Batches” Study#

  • 4% of Pfizer batches caused 71% of all adverse events
  • 47% of deaths (579 of 1,233) were attributable to these few batches
  • The study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation

Internal Pfizer Documents#

  • Until February 28, 2021: 1,223 deaths + 11,361 serious adverse events
  • This information only became public through US court proceedings in October 2021

The Media Silence: An Unprecedented Blackout#

Despite the spectacular defendants, the trial experienced an unprecedented media blackout:

No Coverage from:#

  • Reuters, AP, BBC, CNN
  • German mainstream media
  • Dutch public broadcasting

Coverage Only in:#

  • “De Andere Krant” (alternative Dutch media)
  • US platforms (InfoWars, Gateway Pundit)
  • Specialized health portals (Children’s Health Defense)

Why the Trial Really Failed#

1. Lawyers’ Procedural Error#

The new Dutch civil procedure code since January 2025 mandatorily requires that pre-trial evidence gathering takes place before main proceedings. Van Kessel and Stassen ignored this rule and started the main proceedings directly.

Even without the procedural error, the legal hurdles would have been high:

  • 5-year statute of limitations for product liability
  • High causality proof between vaccination and damage
  • “Safe Harbor” clauses for emergency approvals
  • International contractual immunities

3. Political and Media Pressure#

The coordinated media ignorance and van Kessel’s mysterious arrest suggest systematic pressure to prevent such proceedings.

Additional Considerations#

1. Timing and Coordination of Van Kessel’s Arrest#

The arrest of Arno van Kessel, just one day after filing his 52-page rejoinder, is highly suspicious. This suggests a coordinated action to disrupt the legal process. These details underscore the possible political and institutional pressure points affecting the case.

2. Nature of Charges and Government Action#

The charges against van Kessel, including “anti-institutional activities” and membership in a “criminal network,” are vague and lack concrete evidence. This vagueness, combined with the prominence of the case, raises questions about the motives behind his arrest.

3. Public Support and Protests#

The significant public support for van Kessel, as evidenced by protests with hundreds of demonstrators outside the prison, shows broader public interest in COVID-19 vaccine litigation accountability. This public outrage is important for understanding the extent of social unrest.

4. International Contexts and Similar Cases#

Van Kessel’s case is not isolated; similar legal challenges against COVID-19 policies and vaccine manufacturers are taking place worldwide. For example, there have been attempts in Germany to file criminal charges against prominent figures related to COVID-19 policies.

5. Media Coverage and Information Control#

The lack of mainstream media coverage of this high-profile case is remarkable. The fact that alternative media are the main source of information suggests a concerted effort to control the narrative around COVID-19 litigation.

The procedural error made by van Kessel’s legal team is a technical matter that, while significant, does not overshadow the substantial questions raised in the case. For those unfamiliar with legal processes, it’s important to explain how this error affected the outcome.

7. Future Implications and Ongoing Developments#

The case is not yet concluded, as Peter Stassen has filed an appeal. The possibility that higher courts will review the procedural error and the underlying substantial questions of the case means this story is far from over.

Lessons from the van Kessel Case#

What Was Successful:#

✅ Jurisdictional success against Bill Gates - historically significant
✅ Collection of extensive evidence - scientifically founded
✅ International attention in alternative media

What Went Wrong:#

❌ Fundamental procedural error - should have been avoidable
❌ Strategic planning - timing of filings problematic
❌ Political naivety - underestimation of resistance

Outlook: What Happens Now?#

Peter Stassen has filed an appeal, but the prospects are grim. The procedural error is so fundamental that even higher courts will have difficulty overlooking it. Arno van Kessel remains imprisoned, over 500 demonstrators protested outside the prison for his release. His family continues to fight for his release.

The evidence questions remain unanswered: Why did some vaccine batches show drastically higher adverse event rates? Did authorities know about these differences? Were critical data deliberately concealed?

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity#

The van Kessel trial could have achieved historic significance. For the first time, the main actors of Corona policy stood before a European court. For the first time, experts were to testify under oath about vaccine safety.

But legal failure squandered this opportunity.

A procedural error that experienced lawyers should have avoided ended the most promising court case for Corona policy accountability. The real questions remain unanswered. Those responsible remain untouched. And a brave lawyer sits in prison – without charges, without trial, without hope of early release.

The message is clear: Anyone who wants to challenge Corona policy in court must expect anything.

The van Kessel trial exemplifies the challenges faced by all those demanding genuine accountability for Corona policy. Technical errors, political pressure and media blackout – an explosive mixture that threatens any future accountability attempt.