A 19-year-old man from Groningen is suspected of an attempted rape on the train from Groningen to Assen. This became apparent on Tuesday during an introductory hearing before the court in Assen.
A 25-year-old woman was found by two conductors early in the morning of August 2. She was upset and had injuries to her neck, face and stomach. Her shirt had been pushed up. She had been attacked by a fellow passenger. He had tried to take off her clothes to sexually assault her.
The man allegedly grabbed her by the throat, taking her breath away. The NS employees who rushed to the scene found the suspect and allegedly verbally abused and threatened him. One of them was hit in the head with a fist. Cell material from the Groningen man was found on the victim’s clothing.
The suspect did not appear at the short hearing. He is still undergoing psychological examination. That report will be ready in January, the public prosecutor promised. The case will be substantively heard at the end of January. The suspect will remain in custody until the next hearing, the judge decided.