Josef B., who became known as ‘the handyman’ of the farm family from Ruinerwold, will appear in court today in Assen. Two and a half years after his arrest, it is being assessed whether the 61-year-old Austrian has been guilty of deprivation of liberty and abuse of the children of the family.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects him of committing the crimes between 1999 and October 2019. The Public Prosecution Service previously announced that it is assumed that B. did not touch the nine children himself, but that he made it possible for the father of the family, Gerrit Jan van D., that the children were mistreated, abused and neglected.
Read the developments in the court below. A lawsuit in this case is expected this afternoon.