7 years in prison and TBS with compulsory treatment: that is the demand against Thomas de G. from Zevenbergschen Hoek. He killed an entire family from Raamsdonksveer in March. At that moment he was going exactly 203 kilometers per hour and he had drunk a lot of beer.
“It was not a question of if he would cause a collision, but when,” the prosecutor said. “He only braked a second before the collision. He knows the dangers of alcohol like no other.”
Experts believe it is ‘necessary’ for De G. to be given a TBS, because there is a chance that he will get behind the wheel again while drinking alcohol. He also has borderline and is narcissistic. That is why the justice department also opts for TBS with compulsory treatment and after that he is not allowed to drive for 10 years.
Thomas de G. raced along the A59 while heavily intoxicated on March 10 this year. He caused an accident near Sprang-Capelle, in which an entire family from Raamsdonksveer died. A 10-year-old girl, her 13-year-old brother and their father and mother (both 46) did not survive.
Drink a lot
Thomas de G. gave full throttle on the A59: he drove more than 250 kilometers per hour. He was driving home after visiting a friend. He had been drinking heavily.
Remarkably, he filmed the speedometer with his phone. The videos were shown in court. “I was proud of what the car could do,” he said.
Birthday
The family had just gone out for dinner for father’s birthday. The family wanted to overtake a truck on the way back, when De G. came running. The suspect braked and then crashed into the family’s Hyundai at 203 kilometers per hour.
The officer said more about the other vehicles involved on Tuesday. “The car was pressed against the left side of the truck. The impact causes the rear loading ramp of the semi-trailer to break off. The car then turns over and is hit again by a Volkswagen Polo.” The family’s car ended up hitting the guardrail and catching fire.
It was impossible to save
Thomas de G. and bystanders tried to open the doors of the car, but it was already too late. Raamsdonksveer was in deep mourning after the death of the family.
It was extremely busy in the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon: almost all seats were occupied. Emotional victim statements were shocking, while photos of the family were shown.
Tears
“I should actually be celebrating Sinterklaas now. You took that away from us too,” says the grandmother, who also read a statement. “Our family is damaged and no longer complete.”
The suspect burst into tears several times. “None of this should have ever happened. I think it’s terrible that they feel this way.”
“No punishment will be high enough,” relatives of the family said during the hearing.
The verdict is probably in two weeks.
The family’s aunt read an emotional victim statement: