The Eindhoven ‘Rasta robber’ who committed a series of armed robberies in the Eindhoven region at the end of 2018 and early 2019 is still going to jail for sixteen years. The court in Den Bosch came to that verdict on Thursday. He is guilty of six armed robberies, an attempted murder and attempted murder of a prison guard.
In March 2020, the man was also sentenced to 16 years by the court. Three weeks earlier, the public prosecutor demanded sixteen years against the 52-year-old man from Eindhoven.
Like the court, the court is of the opinion that ‘a long-term prison sentence is the only way to protect society against this man’. He therefore still has to go to prison for 16 years. In addition, the man must pay compensation of more than 17,000 euros.
Unrest in Eindhoven and surroundings
The Eindhoven resident became known as the ‘Rasta robber’ because he wore a wig with Rasta hair. He held Eindhoven in his grip with a series of robberies that remained unsolved for months. During the appeal, he was acquitted of two of the eight robberies. However, that is not enough for a reduced sentence, the court concludes.
Between December 2018 and March 2019, the man who committed six robberies at various shops in Eindhoven and a casino in Oss. He also tried to rob a man in the garage of his home. The victim was left with a broken eye socket.
During an earlier court case, the judiciary shared a lot of evidence. The man was recognized on images by his ex-girlfriend. The police found a weapon, disguises and money stolen during the robberies in the crawl space of his house. His bicycle, which was used in the robberies, has been recognized time and again.
Attempted manslaughter
The man has also been convicted of attempted murder of a prison guard. The prison guard asked the man to go into his cell. He refused and attacked the custodian. The guard fell to the ground unconscious, but the man continued to kick his head.
According to the lawyer for the robber, it was a storm and the man felt threatened. However, the man himself stated on appeal that the prison guard “just encountered the wrong person”.
ALSO SEE: Series of violent robberies in Eindhoven: ‘Rasta robber’ is going to prison for 16 years