The court in Assen has imposed a one-year prison sentence on a 46-year-old man from Coevorden. He would have shot a weapon several times in his hometown after a fight and a weapon against someone’s head. In contrast to the position of the Public Prosecution Service, the court assumes threat and not of attempted manslaughter.
The police arrived that night on a report about a car that was on fire in Joseph Israëlsstraat, where there were several people to watch. After that, reports were also received about a shooting. Near the fire truck, the police found a then 16-year-old boy who had a shot wound in his right lower leg.
The Coevordenaar stated that he was visiting his sister that night to wish people a happy New Year in the Jozef Israëlsstraat. There was a party tent outside. According to the suspect, his son, who was also on the spot, had a fight with someone at the party and he himself stood in between to protect him. Then he said he was hurt from the attacker of his son and his brother, after which he would have gotten off.
According to the brothers, however, the suspect would have drawn a gun and put it against the head of one of them. Then the Coevordenaar would have tried to shoot at him. While one of the brothers ran away, another bullet would have been fired.
According to the OM, the suspect is also responsible for the shot wound of the 16-year-old boy who was found. One of the witnesses in the case stated that there was a person who shot recklessly around him. For twice attempted manslaughter, the OM demanded a six -year prison sentence.
The punishment was considerably lower because the court did not go along in this reading and the man relied twice attempted manslaughter. According to the court, it is not possible to prove that it was the suspect who would have shot the boy. A weapon or bullets were not found. Only sleeves and banging patterns were found on the spot, but they have no relationship with the injury of the 16-year-old boy.
According to the court there is only two threats, by putting the gun against the head of one of the brothers and shooting several times in his direction. Because it cannot be determined with what kind of weapon the Coevordenaar has shot, it has not become clear whether one of the brothers had a chance to die due to the actions of the accused.
The court still called the facts “very serious.” Shooting with a weapon between several people has a major impact on the victims and the witnesses and causes feelings of insecurity in society, the court said. The court also criticizes the attitude of the suspect because he would have taken no responsibility for his actions.