The Public Prosecution Service demanded four and a half years in prison against the truck driver who rode a dyke in Nieuw-Beijerland in August 2022 and ended up in a neighborhood barbecue, killing seven people and seven people were (seriously) injured. In addition, according to the OM, he would have to hand in his driver’s license for seven years.
The public prosecutor stated that Juan S. was driving a truck while it was not allowed because of his epilepsy – a disease that he had hidden from his employer and then wife. In addition, he had used cocaine in the 48 hours prior to the accident, although doctors had advised him. He also showed little to realize what he has done. This is evident, among other things, from his request to be allowed to drive again.
Shortly after the accident, of which Juan S. can’t remember anything, he stated that he had an attack of epilepsy with the police. Later, during the session, he said he hadn’t had any attack. The public prosecutor did not find that change in the statement credible. Witnesses also tell the behavior of the driver who matches an attack.
Victims
On Thursday, the suspect’s lawyer will make her plea. After that, the suspect can focus the floor to the judges, relatives and victims.
Last week and Wednesday morning, relatives and victims spoke about the enormous consequences of the accident on their lives. Before she started her story, Gitta Ammerlaan showed the judges and the suspect a portrait of her daughter Marguerite and son -in -law Richard, who both died. The first months after their death she was in shock. Now, almost three years later, the pain is slightly less all -embracing, she said. But the shine is of life.
The sister of the highly pregnant Diana, who died with the unborn girl, told about her intense sorrow: “They expected a miracle, it became a nightmare.”
Gitta Ammerlaan says to the suspect more relatives and victims: “You have never shown regrets or repentance. At the end, apologies came but I thought it was bad acted, totally not convincing.”
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He finds it terrible what happened, says the truck driver who ran into a neighborhood barbecue in the south side