The two victims of the double murder in Geistingen, Belgium, are 35-year-old Marly from Best and her 40-year-old cousin Martinus from Eindhoven. He actually slept with her as a ‘guardian angel’, because Marly was attacked by her ex. It is not the first time that someone from our province has been killed by a stalker. This has happened in recent years.
Linda van der Giesen
The murder of 28-year-old Linda van der Giesen from Zevenbergen caused a lot of indignation. On August 10, 2015, she was hit by her ex in the parking lot of the TweeSteden Hospital in Waalwijk, who then shot her.
It later turned out that the police had known for some time that that ex, John F., was threatening her. He was also known to be in possession of a firearm. But nothing was done with reports of threats and stalking. The police eventually went deep into the dust. John F. received ten years in prison and TBS with compulsory treatment.
Juliette Bouhof
Juliette was only 17 years old when she was murdered in October 2014 by her ex-boyfriend Koen B.. He squeezed her throat shut in a parking lot in the center of Eindhoven.
In the weeks leading up to the murder, he threatened Juliette dozens of times. He also broke into her parents’ house. It even got to the point that B. was briefly arrested. When he was later released, he was given a contact and restraining order. That couldn’t prevent Juliette’s death in the end. B. was sentenced to eleven years in prison.
Saga Backman
The Saga, originally from Sweden, was met on September 10, 2013 at her house on Leonardus van Veghelstraat in Den Bosch by her ex, 24-year-old Sander V.. In the firebreak behind the house, he killed her with at least eight stab wounds. .
Prior to the murder, it was already clear that the relationship between Saga and Sander V. was problematic. Saga ended the relationship, but V. couldn’t stand it. A month before her death, the student filed a police report after receiving threatening text messages. Nothing was done with the report. V. eventually had to go to prison for 20 years.
Laura Korsman
It also went completely wrong with Laura Korsman (24), when she broke off her relationship with 32-year-old Zamir M in 2018 after a holiday. After the break, he stalked her for weeks. Laura made a report to the police and was given an alarm button in case of an emergency.
According to local residents, she no longer dared to walk the streets at night in the weeks before her death. That fear turned out to be justified. In July 2018 she was found dead in her student residence in Utrecht. She died from multiple stabbings. M. was sentenced to 15 years in prison and tbs with compulsory treatment.
Police can’t do much
The common denominator in these stories seems to be the role of the police. In practice, however, it turns out to be difficult to do anything against reports of stalking. Often there is little evidence, or simply not enough reason to detain someone.
The most powerful means that the police often have is an area and contact ban. However, it appears from the above that this is not always sufficient.
ALSO READ:
Murder of Linda van der Giesen: twelve years in prison and TBS for perpetrator John F. not changed
Higher sentence for Koen B. after the murder of Juliette Bouhof: 11 years in prison
Sander V. is going to jail for two years longer for the murder of student Saga Backman (19)
Still fifteen years in prison for murderer Laura Korsman (24)