A 47-year-old suspect has been sentenced to 5 years in prison and TBS for attempted manslaughter of a 68-year-old Assen resident. The victim was severely assaulted and stabbed with a knife out of the blue in broad daylight.
During that attack in Assen more than a year ago, the victim suffered a shattered hip. His then 16-year-old son said in court in Assen on Tuesday that his father has since become less than 10 percent of what he was. “He was the strongest man I know. That day my father’s life was taken. I have lost my greatest hero. I still hope I wake up and it was all one big nightmare.”
The Assen resident was walking his dog on Talmastraat in the morning of December 3 last year when he saw an aggressive man with a knife smashing windows with a manhole cover. Suddenly the psychotic suspect came at him and started kicking and punching. According to the public prosecutor, the local resident broke his hip due to the hard kicks against the joint.
Never the same again
The suspect also allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife and suffered a cut wound to the face. A bloody knife was also found nearby. The man from Assen underwent surgery and received a new hip, but because there is so much damage in his body, including nerves, he will no longer be the same as he used to be.
The prosecutor said that the suspect flew towards the victim out of nowhere. “He kicked him when the 68-year-old gentleman was on the ground. The victim could have died because of that behavior and stabbing or waving a knife.”
The officer said these are very serious criminal offences. “A completely random passer-by was attacked out of nowhere in broad daylight without any reason. It has had enormous physical consequences for the victim. And those consequences will last a lifetime. From vital and healthy he has become an invalid.”
‘Knew how dangerous it was’
The suspect has a long criminal record and has often been sentenced to prison and treatment. The criminal case had previously been heard in July this year. The Public Prosecution Service then decided not to impose a sentence yet, but to have additional research carried out by a psychologist. He advises TBS with coercion, it became apparent on Tuesday. The officer believes this should be adopted.
The psychologist’s report shows that the suspect was psychotic at the time of the crime due to drug use and not taking the necessary medication. “He must have known how dangerous that was.” The officer believes that he is therefore fully accountable.
It is striking that an expert from the probation service advised during the hearing to investigate into TBS with conditions, a less strict measure. Lawyer Tineke Pieters is also in favor of this. She believes that TBS with coercion is too harsh a remedy. According to her, her client is now open to assistance.
The court will make its ruling on January 9.