THE Muslim extremist on trial for murdering filmmaker Theo van Gogh admitted his guilt in court yesterday, declaring he acted out of religious conviction and would do it again if given the chance.

Prosecutors began presenting their case in the Netherlands today against the man accused of killing filmmaker Theo van Gogh, pushing for convictions on murder and terrorism charges.

The accused killer of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh ignored his victim’s pleas for mercy and calmly shot him at close range before slitting his throat, prosecutors said today at the first public hearing in the murder case.