Judges really shouldn’t accept dinner invitations. No good can come of it, writes Hanneke Sanou.

Judge Connerotte had a plate of spaghetti with the wronged party and was pulled off the Dutroux child abuse and murder case so fast he didn’t have time to undo the tomato stained napkin around his neck.
We can only guess what was on the menu when judge Tom Schalken sat down to dinner in the company of the Arabist Hans Jansen, expert witness in the Wilders trial.
According to an article in De Pers newspaper the two were invited to a private do for food buffs from ‘different disciplines’. It featured, among some choice dishes, a debate about the Wilders case.
Jansen apparently bolted almost immediately when he heard who else was coming but host Bertus Hendriks, aided perhaps by the smells emanating from the kitchen and the promise of a fine Rioja, persuaded him to stay. Don’t be silly old man, this won’t go beyond these four walls, said Hendriks who sounds as if he enjoys a bit of mischief making. You can just see him putting his arm around a reluctant Jansen’s shoulder and leading him to the table.
The debate – ‘witch trial’ said Jansen, chewing on a piece of ultra tender lamb perhaps, ‘damned interesting case’, said Schalken possibly sipping on a Muga gran reserva– was very pleasant according to host Hendriks and lead very calmly to brandy and cigars and then a rosy cheeked taxi ride home.
But now Jansen, who stayed remember, complains he had only expected a few people and that Schalken kept ‘edging him on to talk about the Wilders trial’. Not very surprising seeing that was what was on the programme after the hors d’oeuvres that night but maybe Jansen really expected the gourmet element to be more prominent.
Imagine the conversation.
That is a fine cut of lamb, says Jansen. Talking of sheep, Schalken replies, don’t you think Wilders should be put on trial? I really think the choice of wine is excellent, says Jansen, ignoring him. Do you mean this particular Rioja or are you talking about all Riojas, Schalken comes back. It must have been enough to put Jansen off his food.
Now the whole thing will have to be done all over again. Hendriks, you meddler, you have made a meal of it.