MAASTRICHT - Contrary to the advice of behavioral experts, the Maastricht Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) is not going to demand compulsory psychiatric treatment for four of the six suspects in the Schinveld suitcase murder case.According to public prosecutor P. Bruinen, the experts for four suspects go too far in their conclusion that there is a high risk of repetition. "Given the radical nature of tbs with compulsory treatment, it is only necessary if they are very dangerous for their environment. According to the prosecution, that is not the case with these four," she said yesterday before the court in Maastricht, where the cases against five suspects were further heard.
In doing so, the officer went a long way toward meeting the defense. Because the lawyers did not have a good word to say about the psychological and psychiatric reports on their clients. "It is a very curious product, to put it mildly," said counselor C. Korvinus of main suspect Harold R. (28) from Heerlen. "According to the psychiatrist, my client suffers strongly from an anti-social personality disorder, also at the time of the crime, and yet it is concluded that he should be considered at most slightly diminished culpability. That doesn't reconcile anymore." The four other lawyers voiced similar criticisms. In any case, their clients will not be required to undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment; officer Bruinen did not comment on R. in that sense.
Harold R. has confessed to shooting Ger Douven (51) from Schinveld. Douven's charred body was found in the trunk of a burnt-out car near Puth-Schinnen on March 12, 2003. Douven was on leave from prison, where he was serving a three-year sentence for drug trafficking. His girlfriend Rhonda K. (27) had long wanted to get rid of him because he systematically abused her, but she could not get away from him. She complained her distress to girlfriend Tiny H. (48), who in turn asked her oldest son Roy H. (31) if he didn't know anyone who would be willing to get rid of Douven. Roy H. then turned to professional soldier Harold R., who involved his girlfriend, Belgian Marie-José P. (41). All are still on trial. Only Roy H.'s girlfriend, 24-year-old Anderea van der K., has already been sentenced to four years in prison. She allegedly managed the cell phone that served as the central means of communication in the preparation of the murder.
Counselors T. Hiddema (Roy H.); S. Weening (Tiny H.); D. Moszkowicz (Rhonda K.) and H. Ruysink (Marie-José P.) cracked down on psychiatric reports on their clients. Rhonda K. herself informed the court that she was very angry with the psychiatrist for stating "that I allowed pain and fear for ten years because I would be dependent on Ger Douven. That had nothing to do with dependence. I could not leave him."
Consideration of the cases will continue tomorrow.
