Remove Unused Variables "dist" and "links"

Remove unused but defined variables as requested in merge request 863.

mentioned in merge request !863 (closed)

Dear @a_meye37_AT_uni-muenster.de,

you have been identified as code owner of at least one file which was changed with this merge request.

Please check the changes and approve them or request changes.

added CodeOwners label

merged

@a_meye37_AT_uni-muenster.de,

thanks for fixing the issue.