The public prosecutor has decided to offer a 30-year-old man from Amsterdam a community service of 32 hours to prevent prosecution for abusing his now former partner. The sixteen days the suspect has spent in pre-trial detention will be offset against this community service. This means that the suspect no longer has to work to complete his community service. The abuse occurred in February 2022 on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam.
The now 30-year-old suspect was arrested by the police on Sunday, February 13, 2022, on suspicion of attempted aggravated assault or assault. This suspect was arrested after images appeared on the internet showing him abusing his then-partner on the night of February 11 to 12, 2022.
Sufficient evidence of abuse
The victim has given several statements that were later formalized in a report. Under the direction of the public prosecutor, the police conducted an investigation, during which footage was reviewed, various witnesses were heard, and additional information from the victim was requested. Additionally, the defense submitted requests for investigation.
Based on all the investigations conducted, the public prosecutor concluded that there is sufficient legal and convincing evidence for the abuse on the night of February 11 to 12, 2022.
Initially, there was also a suspicion of attempted aggravated assault. After the victim stated that her head was not caught between the door frame of the car and the car door, which had previously been assumed, this suspicion was dropped.
Media attention
The Public Prosecution Service believes that a community service of 32 hours is an appropriate resolution. This takes into account not only the change in the raised suspicion but also the fact that considerable time has passed. Furthermore, the suspect has adhered well to the conditions, such as probation supervision, after his sixteen-day pre-trial detention was lifted.
Finally, the suspect has already been affected by the many negative media attention related to this case. Since the suspect has already spent sixteen days in pre-trial detention, he effectively does not have to work to complete his community service.
The lawyer of the victim and the lawyer of the suspect have been informed about the public prosecutors decision regarding the resolution.