The Public Prosecution Service Limburg demanded 4 years in prison against a 37-year-old man from Heerlen. The man is suspected of attempted manslaughter during the carnival weekend on March 1, 2025.
Incident during carnival
In the early morning of March 1, both the suspect and the victim are in the center of Heerlen, where they are celebrating carnival. They meet for the first time in a club, where – as shown by surveillance footage – the atmosphere is initially relaxed. For unknown reasons, they get into a conflict that leads to a fight in club 7even. Both are then thrown out by security.
Initially, it seems that the incident is over. However, shortly after, at the corner of Pancratiusplein and Pancratiusstraat, another altercation occurs, in which the suspect approaches the victim. The suspect then walks across Pancratiusplein and stands under a canopy from where he moves towards café De Vrienden. At this location, the victim is approached from behind by the suspect and stabbed in his side, with the victim being stabbed through his entire upper arm to his right side.
Evidence
After the arrest of the suspect, a knife was found in his home. Forensic research later shows that the blood traces on the found knife match the DNA of the victim.
Self-defense
The suspect claimed self-defense (excess) during the substantive hearing. According to the Public Prosecution Service, this is not the case as the suspect acted calculatively and there are insufficient indications of an imminent assault.
Worrying behavior
The public prosecutor considers attempted manslaughter proven and states in court that the suspects actions are very concerning.
That the suspect is apparently willing to take another persons life based on an apparently minimal reason is very concerning. Moreover, he takes hardly any responsibility for his actions and tries to downplay his own behavior. Additionally, the incident took place on a public road, in the presence of many bystanders who were carefreely celebrating carnival, said the public prosecutor.
Against the 37-year-old man, the Public Prosecution Service demands an unconditional prison sentence of four years. The court will rule in two weeks.