Prison sentence for shooter at Zwijndrecht shopping centre

The Court of Appeal in The Hague has sentenced a 53-year-old man to 26 years and 8 months in prison for attempted murder of his ex-partner and manslaughter of her mother. The court also convicted him of threats and illegal possession of a firearm.

The suspect stepped out of his car in broad daylight on 21 January 2023 in the car park of the Walburg shopping centre in Zwijndrecht. He approached his ex-partner with a loaded firearm and shot her twice in the back. Her mother, who tried to intervene, was also shot. The suspect also threatened another woman who attempted to help by firing shots into the air. He then fled and was arrested five weeks later. Unlike her mother, his ex-partner survived the incident. She has been left permanently paralysed and has suffered psychological trauma.

Attempted murder and manslaughter

The Public Prosecution Service demanded a life sentence for murder and attempted murder. The defence argued that he should only be convicted of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. The court concluded, based on the background to the incident, including WhatsApp messages and the arranging of a getaway car, that he had intended to shoot his ex-partner dead and had approached her at the shopping centre with that goal in mind. The court could not establish that the death of the mother was also planned. For this reason, the court, like the district court, convicted the suspect of attempted murder and manslaughter.

Not diminished responsibility

According to the defence, the suspect’s actions could be attributed to diminished responsibility. The court did not agree. The suspect was examined by the Pieter Baan Centre but did not cooperate. There is no expert report indicating diminished responsibility.

Length of prison sentence

The district court sentenced the suspect to 30 years in prison. However, the court of appeal had legal objections to such a sentence given the maximum penalties in force at the time. The court therefore reduced the sentence to 26 years and 8 months – the maximum possible sentence in this case.

Rulings

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