On September 27, 2023, the life of a 71-year-old Rotterdam resident came to a horrific end. That evening, he died from the consequences of a stab wound on a small grassy area behind his house on Molièreweg. Today, 12 years of imprisonment has been demanded against the victims neighbor, the man whom the Public Prosecution Service sees as the main suspect. For three other suspects, 9 and 15 months of imprisonment have been demanded, respectively.
On that September day around eight oclock in the evening, the police received a report that ten people were kicking a person lying on the ground at Molièreweg. Upon arrival of the emergency services, the victim was resuscitated for some time, but to no avail. A stab wound was found in his chest. In the victims home, the police also saw a dog with stab wounds. In the victims garden, a bent fence, blood, broken glass, and a stick were found.
There had been tensions for some time between the 71-year-old man and his neighbor two doors down. This neighbor was said to cause a lot of noise nuisance. There was also an argument that day. The victim had made several reports about nuisance that day.
Statements
Police investigations have shown that at least ten people were visiting the victims neighbor that day. Based on phone data, it could be established that the three other suspects were present at the crime scene, including the brother and cousin of the neighbor.
The knife with which the victim was killed has unfortunately never been found. Therefore, this case has mainly looked at witness statements. Based on that, the Public Prosecution Service concludes that the neighbors cousin pushed over the fence, after which he got into a fight with the victim. He hit him several times, also with a stick. Furthermore, according to the Public Prosecution Service, it is clear that the neighbor and the other two suspects chased the 71-year-old victim and kicked and hit him multiple times. The neighbor delivered the fatal stab. The prosecutor stated: “This suspect was also the only one with a real motive. He was the one who had been living in discord with his neighbor for a long time. In short, it seems that he did not just happen to have a knife with him.”
No Insight or Remorse
“The victim was kicked and beaten before the fatal stab wound was inflicted. An end that no one wishes for,” said the prosecutor during the hearing. “We have closely witnessed the sorrow and pain of the bereaved in recent days. The victims family misses him to this day.”
The Public Prosecution Service finds it downright shocking that the suspects have shown no insight or remorse. “A 71-year-old man was attacked by a large group of people, including his neighbor. All suspects have adamantly denied having contributed to this. The lying and evasion of the suspects during the hearing have only complicated the grieving process for the family. At the moment when the victim lay helpless on the ground bleeding to death, the suspects did not care for his well-being at all,” said the public prosecutor, who found this a reason to increase the sentence.
