HEERLEN - According to attorney Weening, seventeen charges have been filed in recent times. "One of the alleged victims recently confessed to throwing a manhole cover through the window. They also threatened to wait for him, so he could suspect that something was waiting for him. Normally you are happy when you are released, but that was not really the case with my client."
Weening, who condemns the willful act, believes the justice system is also to blame. "Eight months in jail, while according to the verdict he had to be detained for zero days. It has taken far too long." Counsel expects that the Heerlen man will have great difficulty picking up his life again. "He is a cab driver, but whether it is so wise to practice that job in Heerlen again is the question."
The prosecutor had demanded a seven-year sentence two weeks ago. The court deemed the evidence, which consisted of statements from three victims, too thin for a sexual abuse conviction.
