The Public Prosecution Service today demanded 20 years in prison for a 36-year-old Rotterdammer who shot a 32-year-old man from The Hague in the head last June outside a bar on Wolphaertsbocht. The victim died the next day in the hospital from his injuries. The security footage shows a targeted and aggressive action without hesitation, said the prosecutor.
That night, the victim was out in Rotterdam. He visited several bars and ended up in a venue on Wolphaertsbocht. Around 2:30 AM, he arrived there and went inside. Footage from inside the bar shows the victim talking to various people, just as one would expect during a bar visit. Around the same time, the suspect left his house and arrived at the bar around 3 AM, as seen on security footage. Outside the bar, he spoke for a while with a group of men.
Shooting Without Hesitation
Things escalated quickly. The unsuspecting victim came outside and passed the suspect a few meters away. The security camera footage shows that the Rotterdammers gaze was immediately focused on the victim. He pulled out a weapon and aimed it closely at the man from The Hague. Before he even realized what was happening, he was shot in the head from a meter away and then pushed, causing him to fall against a parked car. The footage then shows the suspect running towards Clemensstraat. The following night, he was arrested by the police.
The suspect claims he bought a weapon to defend himself against the victim. There was a dispute between the two a few months prior, but the details are unknown. He also states that he only wanted to control the man from The Hague that night, and that the Glock went off accidentally. However, the Public Prosecution Service asserts that the footage clearly shows the weapon being aimed and the trigger being pulled coldly.
Murder
According to the prosecutor, this is a case of murder. The suspect saw the victim come outside, and there was no contact between them. It looks like a settling of accounts. Furthermore, the suspect bought a weapon in the context of a conflict to use it if he encountered the victim. Although there were indications that the suspect went to Wolphaertsbocht because he knew the victim was there, no solid evidence has been found. It seems that the two ran into each other by chance.
Appropriate Sentence
For the Public Prosecution Service, a lengthy prison sentence is fitting. It is hard to express the impact that the loss of him has had on many. The victim was a man in the prime of life. He had a family, a large family, and a circle of friends. His death has affected many lives. A mother has lost her son. His children must go through life without a father. His partner will have to continue without her beloved. His sisters will forever miss their big brother, who they could turn to for advice and support.
The court will deliver its verdict in two weeks.