Lifelong prison sentences are rarely imposed in Drenthe. In the past 25 years, four people received that punishment. On Tuesday, Richard K. was added to that, after his conviction for the double murder in Weiteveen.
He shot Sam (38) and Ineke (44) in January last year. K. had a high -rising fight with the couple about the sale of his parental home. That fight resulted in a slaughter.
Lifelong is only imposed on very serious crimes such as murder or terrorism. A few dozen people now have such a punishment in the Netherlands. According to the forum Lifelong, which is committed to a more human treatment of such prisoners, the number of lifelong penalties has risen sharply in recent years. In the past that happened once every two years, but since 2000 on average twice a year. “The number of supports has since quadrupled.”
According to the foundation, there is no clear explanation. The forum itself thinks that it is because society requires strict punishments and because there is more attention for relatives and victims during court cases.
Although lifelong in the Netherlands really means lifelong, convicted persons can ask for grace or reduction in a sentence after 25 years. That is necessary because such a punishment is inhumane according to the European Court of Human Rights. An advisory board assesses such a request, in which, among other things, the chance of recurrence is considered. The Commission then gives advice to the minister, who ultimately makes a decision. The king can also grant grace.
Well -known lifelong prisoners in the Netherlands include Mohammed B. – the murderer of Theo van Gogh – and several convicts in the liquidation process called Passage. Willem Holleeder and Ridouan Taghi are also a life sentence.
The Admilson and Marcos R. brothers from Hoogeveen also had lifelong. They were convicted of the murder of Berend Smit on the Dwingelderveld and the murder of the Veenendaal couple from Exloo.
The 55-year-old Smit from Dwingeloo does not return from a walk with his dogs in November 2012. Three days later, the police find Body of Smit. He was shot. More than half a year later, in the summer of 2013, the bodies of 77-year-old Jan and Greet Veendenaal are found. Suicide is initially considered, but at the end of that year it appears that the two are strangled.
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