Many dozens of (former) residents of Weiteveen went to the local Roman Catholic church on Wednesday. Pastor Bernard Buit had opened the doors after the violence in the village. “My son knows the children of the victims and the suspect came to visit us. It’s unbelievable.”
‘Good luck to everyone involved. Unfortunately only losers. We pray for strength and support.’ Just one of the texts in the intention book for the Catholic church of Weiteveen. Quite a few people registered something this afternoon. That they sympathize with both families, especially. And may there be peace and happiness. But also that this should never, ever happen again in Weiteveen.
In the church church music plays from a CD, but not so loud that you can no longer talk to each other. People regularly enter the church to light a candle or write something in the intention book. There are also visitors who take a seat in the pews to pray.
After the violent tragedy on the Bargerweg, in which two villagers were violently killed on Tuesday morning, pastor Bernard Buit decided to open the church the next day. From eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon. “It is terrible what happened and this has a huge impact on the village. Weiteveen is a small and close-knit community. When I heard what had happened, I thought: I have to do something about this. Opening the church seemed like a good idea to me. So people can light a candle and/or seek comfort from each other.”
Despair
After the church doors were opened in the morning, the first villagers soon entered. And throughout the afternoon people continued to visit the house of worship, parishioners but also people who would otherwise never come to church. “It’s very nice that the pastor does this,” say two Weiteveen women aged 69 and 85 who often go to church. They know the suspect Richard K. well. He is a born and bred Weitevener. This does not apply to the victims, who had only lived in the village for a relatively short time. “We feel sorry for everyone involved. This drama only has losers, it’s terrible.”
A Schoonebeek woman who used to live in Weiteveen came to church with her husband. She has known Richard K. for about 25 years and says she has had only good experiences with him. “He was very honest. Somehow he must have been driven to despair. This was not Richard, what happened on Tuesday morning.” It was her son who informed her about the tragedy. “He called and first asked: ‘Mom, are you standing or sitting?’ When he told me that Richard had probably killed two people, I didn’t know what I was hearing.”
Victim support
It was known to many that there was a serious conflict between the suspect and the victims about the condition of the house sold by K.. “Authorities were also informed. What have they done? This was not necessary.” A woman who visits church with two children also knew that those involved had a conflict. She knows Richard K. well, the man also visited them. “My son knows both children of the fatal victims. It’s just unbelievable.”
The murdered couple had two children, a son and a daughter. The son goes to Terra in Emmen, the daughter to the Sint Franciscus school in Weiteveen. Terra canceled the open day on Wednesday and all classes start with a mentor hour on Thursday. The events in Weiteveen are discussed and students can ask questions and express their concerns. Professional help is available all day long.
The primary school in Weiteveen had a study day on Wednesday, so all children were free. Victim Support came to school to talk to teachers and prepare for the first day of classes after the tragedy, in which a student lost both her parents due to violence. Victim Support will also be present on Thursday, as will school social work and the local police officer.