9.5-Year Sentence Demanded for Woman in Partner’s Death in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands – A 75-year-old woman from Oudenbosch, Netherlands, faces a 9.5-year prison sentence after the Public Prosecution Service demanded the penalty on Monday for the death of her 77-year-old partner in Amsterdam’s Geuzenveld neighborhood. The prosecution alleges the woman strangled her partner on January 28, 2020.

Details of the Case

Police discovered the man’s body in his Amsterdam home, exhibiting injuries to his face and neck. Although initial reports indicated the cause of death as heart failure, the Public Prosecution Service determined the injuries were inconsistent with that conclusion. According to the prosecution, “serious violence was used while he was sleeping.”

The victim, who suffered from a pre-existing heart condition, may have experienced stress and a strong emotional response due to the violence, contributing to his death, the prosecution argued in court.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

The suspect was initially arrested in 2020 and held for several months before being released when the Public Prosecution Service initially decided not to pursue charges. However, the victim’s children challenged this decision through a legal procedure at the court of appeal, which ultimately ruled that a trial was necessary.

The suspect initially told police she and her partner had spent the day hanging wallpaper and then began drinking jenever around 4 p.m., after which she fell asleep. She claimed to have found him deceased around 8 p.m. And alerted neighbors. However, the prosecution disputes this account, citing the medical examiner’s assessment that the man likely died earlier in the evening or the night before. The suspect had the victim’s blood under her fingernails.

Defense Argument

The suspect was not present at the second court session in Amsterdam. Her lawyer described her as “fragile and vulnerable.”

Sources:Omroep Brabant, ZuidWest Update, Welingelichte Kringen