A remarkable turn in the defamation case against Maxime Meiland: she tries to turn public opinion by reporting rape after thirteen years. But there’s more…
Maxime Meiland decides to leave after thirteen years still report to commit rape now that she is so seriously distrusted by prominent figures in the media landscape. It is a bit late, because friend and foe agree on one thing: she took the wrong path by first going crazy in a book and only now reporting the crime.
Tipping point?
Maxime also has to make that report to remain somewhat credible, but what may be a turning point is that she receives support from a second ‘victim’. “She feels strengthened by the fact that there is another woman who wants to tell the police about similar experiences with the man,” says her lawyer Sébas Diekstra.
The man Maxime accuses of rape. She already wrote in her book that there is at least one woman who has fallen victim to the man and this is according to it A.D also the woman who would now also like to explain. “It is unclear whether that woman will also report the incident.”
‘Very difficult’
Jack van Gelder asks himself The Orange Winter wonder if this will do anything. “It’s been thirteen years, but what seems to be the case now is that another woman has complained about the same man and that’s why she thinks she has a stronger case, but it seems so difficult to prove how or what.”
What does Aran Bade think of the declaration? He agrees RTL Boulevard: “A wise choice. It is the only missing link in Maxime’s story. I think it is a logical step and she also feels encouraged that there is another woman who wants to explain similar experiences with this man. I notice that. I think it’s good that she’s doing it.”
To doubt
Luuk Ikink wonders whether Maxime doesn’t simply report the crime from a PR point of view. “Could it also be that she thought: yes, now people are going to doubt my story, because the story on the other side is being told so clearly now?”
Aran: “Yes, and I think that is the serious thing with these kinds of sexual offenses. We don’t want to take sides in this.”
Sébas confirms in the show section that Maxime mainly filed a report due to pressure from the media. “Maxime has been continuously attacked and has also been called a liar in so many words. People have gone completely crazy on her and that process has ultimately led to her saying: it has to stop somewhere.”
‘The two of us’
Peter Schouten, the lawyer of Maxime’s ‘rapist’, says: “Our response is that he will now report Maxime Meiland to the police for making a false report.”
Telegraaf reporter Jordi Versteegden points out that the legal system in our country is already overloaded. “Here too I think: can’t both parties discuss this with each other? I mean: apparently they can write about it in a book, the other party is now also looking to the media. Shouldn’t the two of them just talk this out?”