The seriously injured victim and a house full of bloodstains is what officers found on June 4, 2024, after a report at Robertaland in The Hague. The 36-year-old victim had been stabbed multiple times and struck hard on the head with a water pump pliers. The 33-year-old suspect claims he had to defend himself, but according to the Public Prosecution Service, that is not true.
Initially, the victim told the police that he was attacked by an unknown person who had rung his doorbell. Only later did he admit to knowing the suspect but was afraid of him. Afraid that he would come back if he gave a statement about him.
The victim stated that the suspect attacked him out of nowhere and then stabbed him while demanding money. Ultimately, the victim gave money. The suspect was later seen on CCTV footage near Huis ten Bosch palace, where he lost the knife used.
No Self-Defense
In his statement, the suspect claimed that the victim attacked him with a knife and that he had to defend himself. This contradicts the victims statement. From the very beginning, we have conducted extensive research into both scenarios, said the public prosecutor during the hearing. Extensive forensic investigation was carried out in the house, a reconstruction took place, and the victim was interrogated. The conclusion of all this is that the suspects statement is not plausible.
The suspect claimed that he kicked the knife used to attack him under the table, but during the reconstruction, he had to admit that this was impossible. There was no space under the table. And no knife was found under the couch or TV cabinet. The knife that the victim allegedly used was found in a kitchen drawer among other cutlery, without any trace of blood. Since both the victim and the house were covered in blood, the public prosecutor stated that he could never have put it back there cleanly. The suspect also gave varying statements on other points, while the victims statement was consistent and verifiable.
Negative Light
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect dangerously injured the victim and then took his phone, preventing him from calling for help. The fact that the victim is still alive is solely due to the quick and adequate response of the emergency services. The victim spent six days in intensive care and still bears visible and invisible scars from the attack on his life.
Additionally, the suspect attempted to portray the victim in a negative light in his statements. Contrary to what the suspect claimed, the victim was not known to the police in any way, and the assertion that he had brought the violence upon himself is, according to the Public Prosecution Service, therefore completely unfounded.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded a prison sentence of 8.5 years. The court will make a ruling in two weeks.