A radical Islamist accused of the ritualistic murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh will not present any defence to the charge at his trial which opened in Amsterdam today.

Mohammed Bouyeri, a Moroccan Dutch national, was forced to attend at the high-security court but Peter Plasman, his lawyer, said he would offer no evidence throughout the proceedings, expected to last for two days.

Mr Bouyeri, 27, bearded and dressed in a long black shirt and a black-and-white chequered headscarf, was carrying a green leather-bound book embossed with gold Arabic script.

Mr Plasman said: “It is my client’s wish that there will be no defence, not by him but also not on his behalf... He will use his right to remain silent."

When Judge Udo Willem Bentinck asked Mr Plasman whether Bouyeri’s refusal was connected to his beliefs the lawyer would not answer, but Mr Bentinck said "I see your client nodding".

Mr Plasman repeated that Mr Bouyeri “takes complete responsibility for his actions - and that specifically means his actions - on November 2, 2004,” the day Van Gogh was killed.

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