Today, a 48-year-old man from Landsmeer appeared in court for attempted manslaughter and systematic abuse of his wife. The man also had to account for physical and psychological abuse of his five (step)children aged 1 to 15 and attempted manslaughter of the oldest child. The Public Prosecution Service believes it is proven that the man committed these acts between January 2020 and August 2024 and demanded an unconditional prison sentence of 30 months.
Report
On August 26, the police responded to a 112 report of domestic violence and found a very frightened woman with four of her children. The suspect was outside barbecuing at that moment. The prosecutor in court said: ‘His arrest that day is one after a long series of unpleasant incidents in the domestic sphere.’ The criminal file shows that the woman and her children did not feel safe for a long time when the suspect was in the house. The evidence is also found in witness statements, a report from the family doctor of earlier injuries, and an audio fragment in which the suspect can be heard shouting at his wife and children. The prosecutor stated: ‘Every day fear of shouting, intimidation, abuse, both physical and psychological.’
Deep Marks
The suspect has left deep marks on his wife and children with his behavior. The woman has also feared for her life. ‘For children, this is extraordinarily damaging to experience, regardless of their age. It is of great importance that their victimhood is also recognized, and that systematic child abuse receives a strong criminal response. The suspect claims that his actions towards the children were pedagogical, but he has severely crossed these boundaries. Burning toys has nothing to do with good parenting,’ said the prosecutor.
Punishment
During his interrogation, but also at the hearing, the suspect showed that he cannot empathize with the position of his victims. According to the Public Prosecution Service, he has no insight into the effect of his actions. Assistance would normally be of great importance, but for a suspect who does not legally reside in the Netherlands, that does not apply. The prosecutor therefore demands an unconditional prison sentence of 30 months.
Psychological Child Abuse
In this case, the Public Prosecution Service accuses the suspect not only of shouting at and abusing the children but also that those children have witnessed the violence he has inflicted on their mother. The judge has explicitly considered in a case in 2021 that children who have been long-term witnesses to violent acts between their parents are victims of psychological child abuse. Nevertheless, psychological child abuse is not often listed as a separate offense in domestic violence cases. This is because it is often difficult to prove that the children were actually present, however obvious that may seem. Sometimes the Public Prosecution Service can prove it, for example, because the police were present in the house at that time. This means that statements from an abused parent or witnesses are important. The children are often too young to be heard as witnesses, or it is too burdensome. Nevertheless, the Public Prosecution Service aims to include psychological child abuse, if provable, in the charges. Research shows that it is indeed very damaging for children to witness domestic violence between their parents.