A prison sentence of 4 years, of which half a year is conditional, hangs over the head of Hilversummer Sam van Z. According to the public prosecutor, the former member of the Utrecht Student Corps during sex with at least two women did not wonder whether they would also have sex with wanted him.
Three women have reported rape against the Hilversummer. None of them were present in court today.
All three had gone home with him after a night out, but did not want to have sex with him. In addition to the three reports, five other women made a similar statement, but they did not want to report the crime. The entire Monday was set aside for this hearing and many sexual details were discussed.
The Public Prosecution Service considers two rapes proven and is demanding a three-year probationary period in addition to the four-year prison sentence. In addition, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), there should be mandatory treatment and a ban on contact with all girls who have made a statement about him. According to the officer, there is insufficient evidence for the third rape despite the reliable statement.
Sticker
The possession of a sexually explicit WhatsApp sticker is also interpreted by the Public Prosecution Service as child pornography. The suspect does not remember how he got that sticker and whether he forwarded it to a WhatsApp group. “Those stickers are shared in groups in groups. I really don’t know whether I forwarded them.”
Two of the three women did not know the suspect until the evening in question. After one of the women reported the crime and Van Z. was arrested, the news spread like wildfire through the student city of Utrecht. Then the other women also decided to report the crime.
But according to the suspect, all sex was consensual. He allegedly missed or misunderstood signals that the women did not want sex. Turning his head away when he tried to kiss her and “no” and shouting “stop”, as one of the victims shouted, he interpreted as a seduction game because they have slept together before. He also states that in the world of student life it is customary that if women sleep over they also have sex. comes.
The Public Prosecution Service states that Van Z. has a distorted self-image and that he overwhelmed the women and forced them to perform sexual acts. “It is staggering that these are the people who will have to build our society in a number of years. This transgressive behavior gives little confidence in the future,” the officer said.
Acquittal
However, according to the suspect’s lawyer, he should be acquitted. For example, he states that the women in the file liked him and voluntarily went to his house with him. He contradicts the image that the officer paints about being overwhelmed and coerced.
In addition to an acquittal on the suspicions of rape, the lawyer also states that the possible sentence he can receive for the sticker should be shorter than his pre-trial detention of 7 months.
Narcissistic traits
Van Z. has been in pre-trial detention for 7 months since he was arrested. “It’s the toughest time of my life,” he reflects. He now lives with his parents in Hilversum again, has left club life behind him, has a steady girlfriend and has switched to part-time study that he combines with a job.
Yet the fear of suddenly having to go back to jail continues to haunt him. “That fear of going back is killing been for me. I am glad that we are sitting here because then the uncertainty will come to an end, despite what the verdict is.” When Van Z. says this, he becomes visibly emotional for the first time during the hearing and drinks water to calm down.
His psychologist finds no disorder in the suspect that makes him less accountable. However, he does have narcissistic characteristics that, in combination with alcohol and a return to club life, can increase the chance of recurrence. “I haven’t drunk alcohol in a year and I’m never going back to student life,” he declares. “I never want this to happen again.”
No bad intentions
Finally, Van Z. can do the talking himself. “Thank you for listening to me,” he begins. “Recently I have been very confronted with myself. I feel terrible for the girls. I really want to emphasize that I have never had any bad intentions.”
He also indicates that he has left student life behind him, wants to restart his life as quickly as possible and wants to cooperate in treatment.
The court will make its ruling in two weeks.