No charges for Jeweller’s wife in robber killings

The court in Den Bosch ruled on Wednesday that Marina Sanders will definitely not be prosecuted for killing two robbers in her and her husband's jewelry store Goldies in Deurne last year. Sanders shot and killed the two men after they attacked and injured her husband.

In September last year the Public Prosecutor decided not to prosecute Marina Sanders, concluding that she acted in self defense. Relatives of the robbers then filed a so-called Article 12 procedure to demand that she be prosecuted.

On Wednesday the court in Den Bosch ruled that, given the circumstances, the woman was justified in pleading self-defense, Omroep Brabant reports. The robbers came into the store armed, with the obvious purpose of robbing them and used excessive force.

According to the court, the woman had the right to defend herself against the attackers, even though she used an unlicensed firearm to do so.

The family members can not appeal against this ruling. Bénédicte Ficq, the lawyer representing the family members, thinks that they will be devastated. They have not been informed yet, because they are currently abroad.

"But they will deduce from this decision that their brother's life is not important enough to have this tested by the court."