That accident happened on January 7 last year. That day K. comes from a friend when he drives behind the couple on Achterberglaan. They are also on their way to visit friends, but ultimately do not arrive.
When they want to turn right, K. hits them hard from behind. The woman suffered serious brain damage, which she still suffers from. She struggles with fatigue, headaches and forgetfulness. “She’s still not the same as she used to be and I don’t think it’s going to get any better than this,” her husband says.
‘Still confronted with it every day’
He is present at the hearing with their daughter. His wife thought that was too difficult. Father and daughter do not want their names in the media, but tell NH that the accident has a major impact on their lives. “We are still confronted with it every day,” the man refers to his wife’s health.
Blood tests show that K. had not drunk or used drugs in the hours before the accident. He did exhibit strange behavior shortly afterwards. For example, he jumped through the rear window of the car he hit and behaved so aggressively towards the officers present that they had to calm him down with sleeping medication.
Vague memories
The court would like to know from K. why he behaved this way, but has not received an answer. “I only have very vague memories of it. That I was lying on the floor and then I woke up two days later in the hospital,” he explains.
That is why he believes that the judge should not impose a penalty on him. “I would find that strange. It would be one word against someone who no longer knows anything.” His lawyer argues that the man may have had a psychosis, because he also suffered from it in the past, but K. himself does not think so. “That only happened when I was still smoking marijuana.”