The man who killed an entire family from Raamsdonksveer is appealing. His lawyer confirmed this to Omroep Brabant on Thursday afternoon. Thomas de G. received 10 years in prison and TBS. “We cannot live with that sentence,” says his lawyer.
In March, Thomas de G. from Zevenbergschen Hoek killed a 10-year-old girl, her 13-year-old brother and their father and mother (both 46) at high speed. That happened on the A59 highway near Sprang-Capelle.
He received a much higher sentence than demanded. Justice had previously demanded 7 years and TBS. The judge therefore added another 3 years. The sentence caused applause, joy and emotion among relatives in the courtroom.
‘Huge blow’
“The sentence was a huge blow to him,” says his lawyer Pieter van de Kerkhof. “That takes time to process. The sentence was significantly more than what was required.”
The lawyer believes, unlike the court, that there is no question of manslaughter. He would not have consciously accepted the risk of a fatal accident. “At most, it is reckless driving. That requires much lower penalties. The court is now looking too much at his driving behavior in the past.”
Thomas de G. also braked just before the accident. According to his lawyer, this is indeed an indication that he did not want any of this.
Filming and beer
Thomas de G. raced along the A59 at 250 kilometers per hour on March 10 last year. He was driving home after visiting a friend. He had had a lot of beer. He filmed the speedometer with his phone. “I was proud of what the car could do,” he told the judge.
The family from Raamdonksveer had just gone out for dinner for their father’s birthday. The family wanted to overtake a truck on the way back, when De G. arrived. The suspect braked and then crashed into the back of the family’s Hyundai at exactly 203 kilometers per hour.
Rescue too late
Thomas de G. and bystanders tried to open the doors of the car, but it was already too late. “A terrible death,” the prosecutor said. Raamsdonksveer was in deep mourning after the death of the family.
It is not yet clear when the appeal will take place. “That could take another year,” the counselor said. He informed the surviving relatives after filing the appeal.
YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE LAWSUIT HERE:
A hug and tears after the conviction of Thomas de G. who killed the family
Omroep Brabant previously made this report: