What could be worse than someone standing beside your bed in the middle of the night threatening you? The place where you should feel safest, the kind of safety that lets you fall asleep. The prosecutor includes this element in the sentencing demand against a 33-year-old man suspected of stalking, trespassing, physical violence, and pursuing his ex-partner.
During two different periods, from March 7, 2022 to January 2023 and then from January 1, 2025 to June 17, 2025, the suspect is accused by the Public Prosecution Service of stalking. After ending the relationship, the suspect sought contact with the victim by sending her multiple emails. He also transferred small amounts of money to her with unpleasant and sometimes threatening descriptions in the bank transfer. In the second period, it became more physical. He chased her in his car, frequently drove through her street, waited for her at her home, threatened her, and boxed her in when she wanted to go home.
On June 11, 2025, the situation escalated. In the middle of the night, the suspect broke into her home in Emmen, suddenly stood beside the bed where the victim was lying, and threatened her. The prosecutor said: He said at that moment: if someone had been lying next to you, I would have killed you. That was not all. When he broke into the house a second time, he punched her in the face, destroyed the television, and threatened her with death again. The assault continued. The victim was punched in the face again, grabbed from behind by the throat so she could not breathe and saw black spots. She eventually managed to free herself on her own. How frightening must this entire situation have been for the lady? A situation that has existed much longer than the day he stood in her bedroom. A situation that must stop, said the prosecutor.
Based on the report, medical statement, police-described injuries to the neck and upper arm, video descriptions, and witness statements, the Public Prosecution Service is convinced the suspect committed the violence. I am of the opinion that the suspect deliberately intended to cause serious bodily harm, said the prosecutor.
There is much attention to protecting women against violence. Women who find themselves in relationships dominated by jealous, coercive, or controlling behavior from their partner. The prosecutor said: The kind of relationship the lady entered years ago. She was strong enough to end it, but the suspect does not accept this. The prosecutor believes a woman must be able to tell a man she no longer wants to continue without being confronted with his intimidating and violent behavior. The suspect has seriously violated her privacy and physical integrity. His actions continue to affect her life to this day. This is not the first time the suspect has used violence against this victim; in 2023, the police court convicted him of assault and threats.
When determining the sentence, the Public Prosecution Service considers the suspects personal circumstances. To prevent this from happening again, the probation service recommends treatment and clinical admission. The Public Prosecution Service finds it important that the victim can live a life free from the suspects intimidating behavior and demands, besides a twenty-month prison sentence, a restrictive measure including a contact ban with the victim.
The court will deliver its verdict on November 25.
