The Public Prosecution Service demands fourteen years of imprisonment against a 42-year-old man from Roosendaal who is suspected of manslaughter of his wife. Domestic violence proved fatal for the victim. This case illustrates why recognizing, preventing, and addressing the consequences of domestic violence is incredibly important, said the public prosecutor.
The suspect and the 47-year-old victim had not been living together for long in a house on Hoogestraat in Roosendaal when he called 112 himself on April 23 last year. The man told the operator that he had fought with his partner and that he had killed her. Officers immediately went to the residence and discovered the lifeless body of the woman. She had been deceased for some time.
Investigations revealed that the victim must have succumbed to the effects of a single stab wound during the night of April 10 to 11. According to the Public Prosecution Service, this could only have been inflicted by the suspect.
Partner Violence
There had been tensions between the two for some time, with excessive alcohol use playing a role. There were also concerns about money and housing. After his arrest, the suspect made several statements and contradicted himself. While he told the operator that he had killed his wife, he also stated to the police at times that he did not remember what had happened.
The public prosecutor elaborated on the phenomenon of domestic violence, including partner violence as in this case, during his indictment on Thursday. A complex and serious societal problem. In a large number of cases of murder and manslaughter, there is domestic violence involved. In more than three out of four cases where a woman is killed by violence, the perpetrator is a family member or partner or ex-partner. In most cases, the perpetrator is a man, said the prosecutor.
Aggravating Circumstances
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect has committed manslaughter, which warrants a lengthy prison sentence.
The fact that it involves violence against a partner is seen by the Public Prosecution Service as an aggravating circumstance. The suspect was aware that he could become aggressive and violent if he consumed too much alcohol. This has also been taken into account as an aggravating factor in determining the sentence demand. The public prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of fourteen years, with credit for pre-trial detention.
The court will deliver its verdict in two weeks.