The victim was 49 years old. His body was found on Friday, June 7, last year in Wijchen, at a friends house where he was temporarily staying. The body was covered from head to toe in bruises, swellings, and skin damage. There was also significant internal injury. The victim was literally beaten to death, said the prosecutor today in court in Arnhem. A 40-year-old suspect without a fixed residence is facing a prison sentence of 10 years plus TBS.
On June 5, two days before the body was discovered, the victim was still alive. He was seen by a neighborhood manager and had called his caregiver at Iriszorg. Photos of the victim were found on the suspects phone. He was already severely beaten on the ground. The suspect took these photos on the evening of June 5. The housemate heard terrible noises and banging from the bedroom that evening but did not dare to check. The Public Prosecution Service assumes that the outbreak of violence, which later led to the victims death, occurred on the evening of June 5.
Investigations indicate that the man likely died on Friday, June 7. The suspect claims he was not in the house that day. The pathologist who examined the body determined that the victim died due to the violence. The pathologist also explained that a person with such injuries, including rib fractures, bruises in the pleura, and a torn lung, can remain alive for minutes, hours, or even days.
The suspect denies any involvement. However, his statements are inconsistent and contradictory. The prosecutor: He presented himself as the good Samaritan who helped and cared for the victim. That human image, as the suspect would like us to believe, is not seen or recognized by anyone else. He is known as an aggressive man with a short fuse. The victim, as well as the friend he stayed with, were terrified of this suspect, who had previously been violent and abused the victim. He used both the house and the victims bank card. The suspect tries to shift the blame onto another, the housemate. However, the Public Prosecution Service has found no evidence for an alternative scenario. They also believe it is proven that the suspect is responsible for the victims death.
The suspect has a long criminal record with multiple assaults and outbreaks of violence. The risk of recidivism is high, according to the probation service. Experts have found indications of a personality disorder and problematic substance use, even though the suspect did not fully cooperate with the investigation. There is also evidence of a cognitive impairment.
The prosecutor: The suspect violently took away the victims most essential possession. His life. Survivors must live with this loss and with the knowledge that their loved one suffered greatly in the last moments of his life and died a terrible death. I believe that the combination of a prison sentence with TBS is appropriate and necessary here. If the court does not impose TBS, the prosecutor considers a prison sentence of 15 years appropriate.