Triple murderer Thijs H. (28) from Brunssum gets 18 years in prison plus tbs with compulsory treatment. Both the prosecution and H.'s lawyers are considering appealing the verdict.
The court recommends that the tbs start after six years. However, he must then remain in a tbs clinic for the entire sentence. The court anticipates long-term, necessary treatment.
For the court, it is established that H. struck three times with premeditation: three times murder, therefore. The court doubts the veracity of H.'s delusion and believes he has exaggerated symptoms in order to round out the "desired insanity." His statement, according to the court, was "colored after the fact." "Is the story about your delusions entirely your story? That remains nothing more than an assertion by you."
Impaired accountability
In addition, H. used drugs and non-prescription medication that may have exacerbated the psychosis. "Your own actions contributed to the severity of your condition." All these circumstances mean that the court does not follow the experts' opinion. The court considers H. diminished culpability, as does the prosecution.
His disorder means the acts cannot be fully attributed to him, but there is room for retribution, the court ruled. "The victims were attacked unexpectedly and violently, without any cause," the court said. "The court can hardly imagine the fear and pain they must have felt. How frightening is it? Just like that, randomly. That is a terrifying thought, but the desolate reality for the bereaved families. Not just grief, but anger. Can the court imagine."
H. has caused people immense grief. "You find it hard to see yourself as a murderer, but you are."
Claim
Four weeks ago, the prosecution demanded 24 years in prison plus restraining orders and is considering appealing the court's ruling. H.'s lawyers are also considering appealing.
Thijs H. stabbed three people to death in early May last year: Etsuko (56) in The Hague and Diny (63) and Frans (68) on Brunssummerheide. According to the prosecution, H. also made conscious choices during his psychosis. For example, he turned off his cell phone so that he could not be traced before he went out with a knife to kill someone, as was the order in his head. According to experts at the Pieter Baan Center, this is quite possible even when he was in psychosis. "You can still make choices then, but in a disturbed reality." The court does not follow that reasoning.
According to the court, his actions can be partly blamed on him. He partly feigned his psychosis, lied and made varying statements. The dexamphetamine prescribed by Mondriaan mental institution may have contributed to the onset of the psychosis, the court stated, but that does not alter the fact that he can be held partly responsible for his actions. According to the PBC, Mondriaan should never have prescribed H. that drug.
'Escalation'
According to H.'s lawyer Serge Weening, these drugs caused an "escalation in the brain of Thijs," as a result of which he eventually committed the murders, one in The Hague and two on the Brunssummerheide. That H. allegedly lied, made alternating statements and adjusted his story is unjustly blamed on him, according to Weening: that fits with recovering from his syndrome.
In his last word in court four weeks ago, H. said he would like nothing better than to undo his actions: "If I hadn't felt really forced, I wouldn't have done it. This is not who I am. I am not a cruel person. I was living in a delusional world. I really thought I had no choice." He offered his "deepest apologies" to the relatives of his victims.
