The police gave chase at the end of November when they saw a man with a firearm driving on the N65 near Helvoirt. The officers erred on the side of caution and took the man out of his car in Tilburg with their firearms drawn. On Thursday, Marvin B. (29) was allowed to explain to the police judge what he needed that firearm for.
Marvin shuffled back and forth in his chair in front of the judge. He had bought that firearm because he was threatened by his ex’s new boyfriend. He has children with her, but things didn’t go well. The new friend got involved and his brother and Marvin also felt threatened.
But the public prosecutor and the police judge had some doubts about that story. The converted alarm pistol was found under Marvin’s bed, along with a silencer and cartridges. But under that bed were also gloves and a balaclava.
A bit strange, the officer thought. “And if you have that firearm for self-defense, you don’t put that gun under your bed, but you take it with you,” he reasoned. “There are so many alternatives. This is the most serious remedy if you feel unsafe.
The officer thought Marvin might want to seek redress from the brothers. “I doubt the self-defense story. I’m assuming he wanted to use the gun.”
But according to Marvin it was really for self-defense. He would like to sit down with his ex to make contact arrangements for the children. He has not seen them since his arrest on November 28 and he believes that must change quickly. He is terrified of his ex’s boyfriend and his brother. A mediator must now help to make contact arrangements.
But first Marvin has to serve a sentence. The police judge found the case far too serious to give him community service or a fine and imposed a six-month prison sentence, four of which were conditional. “Anything found under your bed is questionable, especially such a sharp-shooting firearm.”
Marvin really didn’t want to go to jail. Because of his children, but also because of his new work in scaffolding construction. Shaking his head, he heard his punishment. He has two weeks to decide whether to appeal.
In addition to gun possession, the Tilburg citizen was also arrested for driving under the influence and driving without a driver’s license. He received a separate report for this.