On October 7, the East Brabant court convicted a man (40) and a woman (36) for the death of their newborn son. They were sentenced to 1080 days in prison, of which 671 days were conditional. The 409 days the two spent in pre-trial detention equaled the unconditional prison sentence, so they did not have to return to prison. The Public Prosecution Service East Brabant (OM) disagrees with the verdict and is appealing.
The parents provided their baby with insufficient and unsuitable nutrition, causing the boy to die of malnutrition 17 days after his birth. According to the East Brabant court, there was no intent, and the parents were therefore convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Deliberately deprived of life
However, the Public Prosecution Service believes that the parents are not only guilty of their childs death but that they deliberately deprived their baby of life. The baby did not receive adequate and appropriate baby food but a mixture of soy powder and so-called demi water. This is water from which all salts and minerals have been filtered out. Despite the warning on the packaging that this type of water is unsuitable for consumption, the parents chose to give it to their child. According to them, the warning labels were disinformation. They also gave him mushrooms as part of their own diet.
Furthermore, according to the Public Prosecution Service, the parents deliberately did not consult a medical expert because they were afraid their son would be taken into care. The parents first child was immediately taken into care after birth in 2022 due to the concerning growth development of the (unborn) baby caused by the parents special diet. The baby was effectively starved during the 17 days he lived, and during those days, the parents did not seek medical help. Emergency services (112) were only called when it was far too late.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, everything indicates that they deliberately failed to act. And in the actions they did take, their own beliefs were always leading, at the expense of their childs well-being and health.
Sentencing
The mentioned circumstances, according to the Public Prosecution Service, were also insufficiently considered in the sentencing. The Public Prosecution Service believes that intent to cause death can be proven, warranting a longer prison sentence.
