The Public Prosecution Service (OM) in Northern Netherlands has demanded a prison sentence of thirty months, of which ten months is conditional, against a 19-year-old man from Bilbao, Spain. According to the OM, he brutally assaulted a man by kicking him hard in the head. This occurred on December 14, 2023, in Poelestraat in the city of Groningen.
The violent incident originated in a nearby café. There was pushing back and forth, with both the victim and the suspect involved. Both were thrown out of the bar along with others. After that, the suspect and the eventual victim encountered each other again, with the suspect behaving very aggressively.
Against the head
Ultimately, the suspect hit the man four times in the head and as many as eleven times in the side. As a result, the 28-year-old victim lay motionless on the ground. The suspect then seemed to walk away with friends but broke away from them. He walked back to the man and kicked him hard in the head.
Attempted manslaughter
The OM qualifies the suspects actions as attempted manslaughter. The victim suffers from partially permanent (dental) injuries. “The suspect intentionally kicked the victim in the head, knowing that such a kick poses the risk of death,” said the public prosecutor.
Aggravating circumstances
The police and the OM ultimately felt compelled to publish footage of the incident. Only after that did the suspect come forward. The prosecutor finds it aggravating that the suspect continued to seek confrontation and that there were multiple moments to stop the violence. “Yet he continued, despite the very weak physical condition of the victim at that moment.”
Severity of actions
The suspect is young, ultimately takes responsibility for his actions, and regrets what happened. However, according to the OM, a conditional prison sentence is not sufficient given the severity of his actions and the impact this incident has had on the victim and the sense of safety of others going out in Groningen.
Compensation
The public prosecutor demands that in addition to a (conditional) prison sentence, the suspect pays the victim over 25,000 euros. This is due to the damages incurred and the (yet to be incurred) medical costs.
The court in Groningen will rule on this case in two weeks.