The prosecutor demands a ten-year prison sentence and TBS with compulsory treatment against a 47-year-old suspect on suspicion of multiple offenses, partly committed in the prison where she was detained. The sequence of events: the suspect commits manslaughter, is detained for that case in PI Ter Peel, and while she is detained for that case, she sets fire to her cell and subsequently assaults a staff member in the prison.
The Public Prosecution Service suspects the woman of having killed a man with knife wounds on April 23, 2024, in Verlengde Frederikstraat in Groningen. After inflicting the stab and cut wounds, the suspect called the emergency services herself and stated that she had stabbed the victim in self-defense and that she did not want to resuscitate. Upon the arrival of the police, they see the suspect standing in the doorway, calm but especially confused. She had cleaned the apartment before making the report.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, there is no question of self-defense, and it can be legally and convincingly proven that the suspect is guilty of manslaughter, one of the most serious crimes in our society. The consequence is irreparable suffering and grief for the relatives. And manslaughter is also very shocking for society.
In PI Ter Peel, where the suspect is detained awaiting the treatment of her case, a conflict arises on April 1, 2024, between the suspect and a prison officer, the later victim. Disagreement over recreation time outside the scheduled times may have been the reason for the arson and assault on April 27. The prosecutor: “Severe assault with premeditation is what the Public Prosecution Service believes can be legally and convincingly proven.” The file shows that the suspect deliberately created a situation in which she could apply significant violence to the officer with whom she had a conflict on April 1.
The victim suffers a double fracture in the left eye socket, a wound on the back of the head, and a wound under the eye. She may even need surgery.
She is worried about whether there will be permanent damage and whether she can continue to perform her job. Additionally, the suspect has committed a life-threatening arson in PI Ter Peel, with the underlying goal of severely assaulting a staff member of the prison.
The prosecutor: “Especially in a penitentiary institution, violence must be avoided; detainees have nowhere to go, but neither do staff members. In this case, the Public Prosecution Service takes it very seriously that the suspect creates a situation in which the staff member is helpless. Violence against staff members of a prison must be vigorously combated. It undermines authority and hinders staff in the performance of their duties. A respectful interaction with prison staff must be part of our norms and values. To underline this, the starting point is that the sanction in the Public Prosecution Service guidelines is increased by 200%.”
Experts indicate that the suspect has multiple serious disorders that were present at the time of the offenses and also influenced her actions. They also consider the risk of recidivism for violent behavior to be high. This is also the position of the Public Prosecution Service; there is a danger to the general safety of persons. Release without treatment poses a serious danger to society.
Given the above, the Public Prosecution Service believes that a very long unconditional prison sentence is appropriate. The prosecutor demands a prison sentence of ten years plus the measure of TBS with compulsory treatment.