Three officers escaped death last November during a chase on the A27 and A58 highways. But did the 26-year-old Kosovar who stood before the court in Breda on Monday drive the car they wanted to stop? “No, I was sitting in the back right,” the suspect stated. The public prosecutor had a completely different view and demanded 2.5 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, the Kosovar tried to ram two police cars during the chase and drove faster than 200 kilometers per hour. “He had complete disregard for authority and the lives of others,” the officer said. He further believes that the three officers who survived the attempted manslaughter are entitled to compensation of more than 900 euros.
On the watch
The man from Kosovo, once part of the former Yugoslavia, was not alone in the car. A day earlier, he had driven from Germany to the Netherlands with three other men, including a younger brother. He could not explain to the judge why. According to the judiciary, he and his traveling companions were out to break into our country. The suspect denied this completely. According to the judiciary, he had to be a lookout while others stole things and his companions took license plates off a car in Breda.
The police took action after the men wanted to strike at a hydraulic tool company in Raamsdonksveer. A chase ensued, driving at 70 kilometers per hour within built-up areas. Even the 207 was tagged on highways. According to the Kosovar, it was not him, but someone else who was behind the wheel. He wouldn’t say who that was.
Nail mat
In Belgium, the police received help from their Belgian colleagues who stopped the getaway car with a spike mat. Two of the occupants were then arrested in a meadow. Officers had seen that the Kosovar was behind the wheel. His lawyer accused the judiciary of disinterest and ignorance: “I cannot respect it. The blinders were never taken off and the hat was thrown at it.” This earned the lawyer a scolding from the court.
The other suspect who was arrested was also expected to stand trial on Monday, but he remained in a German cell. This 23-year-old man was sentenced to six months for the thefts committed.
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