The death of 15-year-old Megan on August 19, 2019 made a huge impression in the Breda district of Boeimeer. The girl was killed by her ex-boyfriend with no fewer than 35 stab wounds. In Den Bosch, the appeal that the suspect has lodged will be filed on Wednesday, because he wants a reduced sentence. This to the great dismay of the local residents: “The penalty is already too low.”
The Boeimeer district in Breda looks peaceful when the spring sun does its work. The birds are chirping and the children of the Peter and Paul School are playing a game of football on a field. Almost nothing reminds of the tragedy that took place here in August 2019.
But looks are deceiving. The gray veil of the stabbed girl Megan still hangs over the neighborhood, although invisible. “I still think about it almost every day,” says neighborhood resident Nel Joosen.
The death of Megan came very close and that is also the reason that since April last year there has been a special ‘Megan bench’ on the playing field at the Langendijk. An initiative of the district council. “This bench has a story and that is not a nice story,” says Paul de Kort, chairman of that district council. “Megan’s death is and will always be a scar in this neighborhood. The impact was really huge and we want to continue to commemorate her.”
“Megan was a beautiful and sweet girl,” says Nel at the bench in front of the stabbed girl. “It hit me very hard at the time and I still have a picture of her in my phone. I don’t know what it is, but it sticks.”
Leo, Megan’s father, also regularly sits on the bench. He also comes by, but on the advice of his lawyer can not say much. But the sadness that Megan’s parents still logically feel on a daily basis will be reinforced again on Wednesday. Because the perpetrator has appealed, another day in court follows.
Megan’s ex-boyfriend does not agree with the previously imposed (maximum) sentence of two years of juvenile detention, compensation and youth tbs. The then 16-year-old wants a reduced sentence. Something that the neighbors don’t like. But they are already angry about the penalty anyway.
“It’s a worthless punishment and that’s how a lot of people around here feel about it,” says Nel. “They also think that the sentence is too low. Prison is not always the best, but that way they get over it very easily. He learns nothing from it. That anger, that rage … that can happen again in a moment. “
Her husband Chris Joosen questions the same. “We assumed one knife stab,” he says. “But then you hear that there have been more than thirty. How is that possible?”
The bench on the playing field at the Langendijk will forever remind the neighborhood of Megan. “It’s a beautiful thing,” Nel says. “There are always flowers and lights and nobody touches them. The children know what it stands for and have respect for it. That is nice to see.”
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