DOETICHEM - A 22-year-old Doetinchem man suspected of a series of robberies in the Achterhoek and Liemers region heard fourteen years in prison sentenced against him Wednesday afternoon. A second suspect, also a 22-year-old Doetinchemmer, heard ten years against him. The first Doetinchemmer sitting in the dock is suspected of being involved in all six robberies committed by a gang consisting of nine people between May and August 2008.These included a robbery of a snack bar (May 12) and of Super de Boer (May 28) both in the Huet neighborhood of Doetinchem, a robbery of a couple on Haafsweg in Doetinchem (June 21), a robbery of a gas station in Etten (July 6), and the robberies of a couple in Duiven (July 12) and a couple in Zelhem (July 30). Especially in the latter two robberies, excessive violence had been demanded, according to the prosecutor. The second Doetinchemmer heard ten years against him because he was suspected of being involved in the robbery at Super de Boer and the robberies at Haafsweg and in Zelhem. 'At one point I thought we would not survive,' he said. 'Our lives were completely destroyed by you guys.' The passages the chairman read from the victims' statements spoke for themselves. The two Doetinchemmers confessed and both expressed regret. With the most striking point being blaming each other for the substantial violence.

It didn't make much difference to the evidence, but it did to the sentencing. So stated the prosecutor, who found that the suspect involved in three robberies had been the worst ranter. Especially in Zelhem where an elderly couple was beaten and kicked. The man was on the operating table for hours, due in part to jawbone and cheekbone fractures. The demanded ten years was considered far too high by the defense, partly because in the Super de Boer robbery this suspect had only been hired as the driver of the getaway car. The counsel considered four years, half of which were suspended, sufficient. In that last six months, the suspect could then begin treatment. The counsel for the other suspect also found the demanded fourteen years for the six robberies or attempted robberies far too high. In his view, the sentence should not exceed 10 years. This defendant was previously serving four and a half years for a pair of robberies. Officer Buttinger saw no reason to adjust his demands after the pleas. A 22-year-old Doetinchem woman who had dealt with money from the robbery in Duiven was sentenced to three months, two of which were suspended, for receiving stolen goods. The court ruled that the woman, with a blank criminal record, was adequately punished with the 51 days of remand and a lot of personal misery (losing her job). The court will rule in all other cases heard this week on March 30.