Man jailed for stabbing Amsterdam teacher

From: Expatica, Netherlands - Jun 10, 2004

AMSTERDAM — A deaf man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail followed by TBS detention in a psychiatric unit for stabbing his former teacher earlier this year.

A court in Amsterdam convicted the 35-year-old suspect, Daan S., of stabbing the teacher, 59, five times during a struggle at Monseigneur Hermusschool on 23 January 2004.

The attack came 10 days after deputy headmaster Hans van Wieren was shot and killed by pupil Murat D. in the canteen of Terra College in The Hague.

D., now 17, was jailed for 5 years recently by a court in The Hague for murdering Van Wieren.

Amsterdam Court heard S. was seen struggling with his former teacher before he stabbed him five times. Two of the stab wounds stuck the victim's heart but he survived after emergency treatment in hospital.

The school caters for students with hearing difficulties.

A psychiatrist asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence on S., claiming imprisonment could worsen his personality disorder.

He said S. suffered from psychotic episodes and had difficulty differentiating fact from fiction. After the stabbing, S. claimed he had been abused by the victim while a pupil at the school.

Police investigated his allegation but no evidence could be found to support his claims, news website nu.nl reported.

The public prosecutor had asked for a four year term with TBS, but the court decided this would be too heavy, despite the seriousness of the incident.

The court also decided to award the victim symbolic compensation of one euro – mainly to clear his name of the unfounded allegations of sexual assault.

The defendant was given time to consult with his lawyer to decide whether to lodge an appeal against the sentence.

[© Novum Nieuws 2004]
© copyright 2004 Expatica Communications BV