On March 11, 2022, a woman was shot in the head in her home in Berkel en Rodenrijs. The Public Prosecution Service asserts that the now 39-year-old ex-boyfriend of the woman is responsible for the shooting incident. Today, 12 years of imprisonment and TBS with compulsory treatment have been demanded for attempted murder.
The same sentence was also demanded in April last year. The defendant refused to cooperate with the investigation at the Pieter Baan Center. After the prosecutor made the demand for the sentence, the defendant wanted to cooperate, after which the court decided to adjourn the case.
Weapon Malfunctions
Police investigation has shown that on that fateful day, the defendant smashed the windows of the woman’s front door with a hammer, crawled inside, and went upstairs. He then aimed a weapon at the victims face, but the weapon malfunctioned. The victim then pushed the defendant, causing him to slip down a few steps. He went back upstairs, shot her in the head, and ran away.
The defendant and the victim have known each other for almost 20 years. They have lived together since 2009 and have a child together. Since 2020, problems have arisen in the relationship. There have been three contact bans, and the woman has filed reports of stalking, threats, and vandalism. The relationship ended in 2021. After that, the victim, along with their child, stayed twice in a shelter for victims of domestic violence. On March 11, 2022, she had just been out for a few weeks. An alarm system to alert the police at the push of a button, a mobile camera for the home, and an alarm could not deter the defendant.
Disorder
The question during today’s hearing was whether TBS is applicable in this case. It is required that the defendant is found to have a disorder. All reports and the statements of the experts show that the defendant has a problem.
The Public Prosecution Service believes that based on all reports, a disorder can be established. The prosecutor during the hearing stated: “If you commit such acts and then continue to plan how to kill your ex-girlfriend and her sister next time, it can only indicate a personality disorder.” To protect society, TBS with compulsory treatment is deemed necessary by the Public Prosecution Service.
Femicide
The defendant attempted to murder his ex-girlfriend in her home by shooting her in the head at close range. The Public Prosecution Service views this as an act of femicide: attempting to murder a woman simply because she is a woman. The prosecutor stated: “The victim went against the defendant’s norm by ending the relationship. The defendant lost control over her and her daughter. He couldn’t accept that and wanted to kill her. It is a huge miracle that she survived.”
The victim lived in extreme fear for a long time and is still very afraid of the defendant. “The impact of this is enormous and leads to a continuous feeling of insecurity that affects all daily activities,” said the prosecutor.