Sister of stabbed Dani (14) furious about lower sentence perpetrator: “Our family is broken”

Uzma came to court with family and a group of friends. Earlier, the Public Prosecution Service demanded 21 months in prison, but the judge ruled otherwise. “That would mean that he has only been detained for six months now, since he has been in juvenile detention since October, so about eight months.”

There are several reasons why the prison sentence ends up at 14 months, according to the judge. The perpetrator had not previously been in contact with the authorities, he has been declared less responsible and the judge considers it important to start treatment quickly in order to reduce the chance of recurrence.

“As a starting point, the judge took a maximum sentence of 24 months. But not only the seriousness was considered, but also personal circumstances,” explains press judge Niels Boots. The perpetrator is mentally disabled, has an anxiety disorder and a disturbed relationship with his parents.

Uzma and her family don’t care about that. “Our family is broken. Our house is broken. This will never be okay again. It will never be the way it was, my little brother is missing.”

After the verdict, she furiously walks out of the room and bites the suspect aloud. “I can’t explain what I felt at that moment. His attitude too, I can’t stand it. It’s very difficult to see him. I feel like he is very sorry, but more because he himself is in trouble. That’s how he comes across.”

Bodywarmer and trousers

Back to October 2022. Through the grapevine, HD and Dani had gotten to know each other and got along well, says the judge. It then came to a clothing swap where the vest of the 17-year-old HD was exchanged with Dani’s pants. But Dani wanted it back a short time later.

A quarrel ensued. Initially via Snapchat. A few days before Dani was stabbed to death, the boys also had a fight on the Wijzenddijkje in Westwoud. Dani would get his pants back, he was promised, but HD backtracked on that later.

It comes to a fight again, in the square outside the school gates of the Oscar Romero. The 17-year-old said he wanted to talk to Dani. Judge: “He stated that he had brought a knife to defend himself. When he was punched by the victim, his eyes turned black.” Dani is stabbed in the chest and dies four days later.

At the closed session, two weeks ago, the family presented a victim impact statement, the judge said. “It shows how a huge impact the death had, and has. The family is struggling with the loss of their loved one. It is extra bitter and difficult to digest that the reason was a simple exchange of clothes. The court realizes that no any punishment or measure can undo the loss of Dani, or compensate for the family’s suffering.”

The judge also considers the impact on students, the school and teachers. “They have been confronted with a very violent event in a place where they should feel safe.”

Pre-trial detention

The suspect is still in custody in a juvenile detention center. “The judge has advised to transfer him to another institution, so the treatment can take place there. And possibly already started during juvenile detention,” explains press judge Boots.

HD’s lawyer, Thijs Kapinga, is considering whether to appeal.