1/4 Soldier from Helvoirt assaults woman and kills man
A soldier from Helvoirt seriously assaulted his girlfriend and more than a week later killed a man in Weert due to reckless driving. That is why the suspect, 29-year-old Yourrie W., must spend 2.5 years in prison. He must also be supervised for the next five years. The public prosecutor demanded this at the military court in Arnhem on Monday afternoon. Yourrie W. broke down during the hearing after relatives made a victim statement: “I should have resuscitated him.”
The suspect initially sat on the edge of his seat for the entire hearing, in civilian clothes, with his arms folded. Tense, but initially also his ears pricked up to respond to the judge if he said something that he thought was wrong. As the treatment progressed, his shoulders slumped more and more.
After an hour it became too much for him and the session was briefly interrupted. During the discussion of the fatal accident, Yourrie was overcome with emotions. He cried after relatives had spoken: “If I could have changed one moment in life, it would have been this moment. I’m devastated.”
“I wanted to prevent her from jumping out of the window.”
Yourrie was arrested for the first time on August 2. That night things had gotten out of hand when his girlfriend, who was with him, became upset about a phone call he had received. Yourrie: “She became hysterical and wanted to jump out of the window to end her life. I wanted to prevent that.” He acknowledges that he used ‘some violence’ afterwards, but denies that he beat her or forced her to stay in his house. According to his girlfriend, she received blows all over the body, which is confirmed by medical examination.
After the woman left the upstairs apartment, Yourrie was arrested. About twenty police officers and military police were involved in the arrest. Yourrie said that he was ‘never completely sober’ during that period. He could not give up alcohol, amphetamine, GHB and other narcotics. His girlfriend also used a lot of drugs.
On August 8, the soldier was allowed to leave prison again, on the condition, among other things, that he would not use alcohol or drugs. Two days later, he killed an 83-year-old cyclist with his car in Weert, Limburg, while under the influence. The victim was hit at a speed of almost 105 kilometers and dragged dozens of meters. His helmet was thrown off his head and the bicycle was found in a tree at a height of one and a half meters. “On August 10, the wrong man died for me,” was said during a victim statement.
“I saw no reaction in his eyes and didn’t want to survive.”
After the collision, Yourrie continued driving: “I saw no reaction in the man’s eyes and then decided that I did not want to survive this. But I actually should have resuscitated him.” The soldier, who has had PTSD for some time, then accelerated and deliberately rammed a tree. He survived this suicide attempt, but suffered several fractures and cracks.
Investigation revealed that the man, who had already been convicted of driving under the influence in June, may have used half a bottle of gin and amphetamine. Yourrie, now dishonorably discharged as a soldier, also took medication. “I had not thought about the consequences of combining alcohol and drugs. I normally don’t drive too fast, this was very unwise. But I wanted to leave Helvoirt, I didn’t want to face the people in the village anymore.”
If it is up to the Public Prosecution Service, he will not be allowed to drive for five years. It was also demanded that Yourrie receive another year in prison if he commits another crime during a five-year trial period. The court will make its ruling on January 15.
Talking about thoughts of suicide helps. You can call the 113 Suicide Prevention Foundation 24 hours a day on 0900 0113 or chat via 113.nl.
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