Four young men from Emmen (20), Groningen (19) and Ruinerwold (17) who were directly or indirectly involved in the death of a 26-year-old employee at the Yorneo youth care institution in Emmen remain in custody. The judge decided that.
The suspects from Ruinerwold and Emmen were arrested in the healthcare institution shortly after the tragedy. Both admitted that they were in the building on Stationsstraat to steal a safe.
The theft resulted in the killing of the youth care provider from Groningen. She was stabbed to death. Both blame each other for stabbing the woman. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) accuses the two of aggravated manslaughter.
The suspects wanted to rob a gas station in Emmen that evening, but it was closed. It was then decided to steal the safe from the youth institution where the youngest was staying. The theft got out of hand. A girl, who also stayed in the institution, tried to get help. She was detained, but she still managed to call for help in the restaurant next door.
The alleged parties involved in the fatal stabbing had more to do. Together with an 18-year-old teenager from Roden, they formed a youth gang. In varying compositions, the group committed street robberies and a robbery at the McDonald’s in Emmen, during which a shot was fired.
The suspects are still undergoing psychological examination, or have now completed a psychological examination. The 20-year-old Emmen resident, present at the healthcare institution during the fatal incident, had already been examined at the Pieter Baan Center (PBC). He has to return for additional observation, because during his investigation a sexual offense case surfaced, which is separate from the violence case in Emmen.
However, in order to form a complete picture of the young man, he is being re-examined in the PBC on the basis of that sexual offense. This sexual offense will also be dealt with in January during the substantive hearing of the case. Eight witnesses, including all suspects, are still being heard by the examining magistrate. This happens at the end of October or beginning of November.
The 19-year-old Groninger wanted to go home, he told the judge. His girlfriend is in the final stages of her pregnancy. But the attempt to exonerate himself failed. The judge finds his case too serious to let him go. His personal interests do not weigh heavily enough.
The 18-year-old teenager from Roden stood before the juvenile court in Assen last week. He was released at the beginning of this year, but was recently imprisoned again after another burglary and theft of a safe containing more than 10,000 euros.
All will remain in custody until the next preliminary hearing on December 5. Sometime early next year, the court will set aside five days for the substantive hearing of all cases.