Just one out of seven people charged with violent offences following pro-Palestine demonstrations at the University of Amsterdam earlier this month was found guilty at Thursday’s fast-track hearing, but five will face new trials.

One of the seven defendants, New Zealand film student Manu A (25), was found not guilty because of a lack of evidence, to cheers from the public gallery, the Parool reported on Friday.

Samuel M C, a 24-year-old Spanish national who has been in the Netherlands for six months, was found guilty and sentenced to a month in jail for kicking a police officer and verbally threatening others. He was also ordered to pay the police officer €350 in compensation. 

Another defendant, an English-speaking political science student who has refused to identify himself to the police, will face a new trial on May 29 after it emerged he had fired a water pistol containing paint at the police and thrown a fire extinguisher. He was remanded in custody pending a new hearing on May 29.

A fourth defendant, an English-speaking woman who also refused to identify herself did not show up to the hearing because she had gone on holiday, the Parool said.

Three others – a 32-year-old Syrian, a 23-year-old Chilean and Dutch national Melle H will also face court hearings at a later date because the court ran out of time to consider their cases.