B., a 23-year-old man with a short haircut and shaved sides, sat in the dock in cream-white sweatpants and a matching hooded sweater. He has confessed to the police that he participated in the violence against the victim, his lawyer says.
On September 6, a group of young people from Beverwijk and Heemskerk abused a 17-year-old Haarlem resident in Beverwijk. They stripped him naked, beat him and kicked him in the face and temple. His hand is also said to have been broken. The boy lost consciousness, but was then able to see his own abuse on a video that went viral, the prosecutor says.
The group not only hit and kicked the victim: they also took his jacket, phone and money. In the video, the perpetrators show off the Haarlemmer’s stolen driver’s license.
‘Unpleasant, but not an attempt to kick someone to death’
Fouad B. has now been in pre-trial detention for three months. His lawyer Tom Colier now wants him to be allowed to await the substantive hearing of his case in freedom. Colier: “No matter how unpleasant the images look, we do not see an attempt being made to kick anyone to death.”
The public prosecutor and B.’s lawyer differ in this regard. “B. and the others kicked her in the head several times with shoes,” the officer said. “The victim had wounds to his temples, among other things, where vital organs are behind.” As far as the officer is concerned, B. will remain in prison for the time being.
B. had two other suspended sentences: a suspended prison sentence of 4 months and suspension of his driver’s license.
‘I got up independently and went home’
According to the lawyer, his client was wearing soft shoes (‘namely Crocs’). In addition, the video shows that it ‘did not happen continuously or with force’, and the victim was (‘fortunately’) able to get up independently after the violence and go home. According to him, it was assault, but not attempted manslaughter.
Moreover, a search of the house and telephone records would have shown that B. did not steal anything and made no plans to do so in advance. As far as he is concerned, B. will be released again for the time being.
B. himself says he would do ‘anything’ for this: he wants to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, help with his debts, day care and all kinds of other conditions that the probation service recommends. B.: “I sincerely regret it, it is inhumane what happened. This boy should never have experienced that.”
Justice wants to try B. within a few months together with two co-suspects of the assault, Beverwijkers aged 22 and 24. A 17-year-old Heemskerker is tried separately under juvenile criminal law.
Another assault
Two days after the assault, the feud between young people in IJmond and Haarlem escalated further. Then a Beverwijker was kidnapped from his city as revenge, gagged, stripped naked and abused.
A video of the assault also shows that his eyes are taped up and a gun is shoved in his mouth. In that case, the Public Prosecution Service suspects an IJmuide resident (18) of attempted manslaughter. He is in custody and must appear in court on February 9 for a preliminary hearing. Justice is still looking for a second suspect.