On the night of July 16 to 17, a 56-year-old man is unsuspectingly sleeping in an empty demolition building in Nieuw-Vennep when suddenly one 17-year-old, two 16-year-olds, and two 15-year-olds beat and kick him for several minutes while he cannot escape. They also hit him with a stick, a metal rod, and throw several heavy objects like a battery at him. The victim manages to flee outside, while being kicked down in the process. The boys follow him outside, and the assault continues: again with the metal rod and stick.
Victim kept in artificial coma
There are two witnesses on the street who have seen the assault. A neighbor who hears loud screaming has already called the police. The police arrive on the scene and arrest five boys not far from the building. All of them have blood on their hands and/or clothing. The victim is unable to provide a statement on the spot. He can only do so after a few days because he was kept in an artificial coma due to his injuries. He is left with multiple broken bones and many injuries all over his body.
Defendants remember nothing
All defendants had to account for themselves in court in Haarlem for three days. The defendants claim to remember nothing, presumably because they had used lean. Lean is a designer drug. Designer drugs are synthetic substances that are often designed to mimic the effects of existing drugs, but with small changes in the chemical structure.
Attempted manslaughter in the extreme category
The Public Prosecution Service charges the five teenagers with attempted manslaughter in association. The public prosecutor states in her indictment: “It is an attempted manslaughter in the extreme category. None of the defendants has provided an explanation for this immense aggressive outburst; this presents the risk that it could happen again if the underlying issues are not truly addressed. Coaching and guidance are essential for the defendants. The question remains: does the Public Prosecution Service believe the defendants should return to youth prison?”
Victim wants teenagers to receive help
In the view of the Public Prosecution Service, the attempted manslaughter in association is legally and convincingly proven. For these offenses, youth detention is usually demanded between 157 to 365 days. The public prosecutor continues her indictment: “But partly due to the positive and forgiving attitude of the victim, I will comply with his request not to send these boys back to youth prison. The victim says about this: “learn from this moment and move on with your lives, do your best to progress with the assistance. I can only have a lot of respect for this, and I hope you remember these words well, think back on them often, and above all: act accordingly.”
Community service and conditional youth detention
The public prosecutor continues: “The Public Prosecution Service gives you the chance to show that this was a one-time enormous excessive mistake. Therefore, my demand will not be that you must return to prison. However, I believe there should be a consequence in the form of community service. Additionally, a long conditional youth detention as a safety measure.”
The public prosecutor demands a community service of 180 hours for the two 16-year-old and the 17-year-old defendants.
For the two 15-year-old defendants, the public prosecutor demands a community service of 150 hours. A probation period of two years applies to all. The public prosecutor also demands special conditions in the form of coaching and assistance.
The court will deliver its ruling on April 18.