No prison time in murder of politician over euthanasia law

By Janene Pieters on April 13, 2016 - 13:38
BartVanU
Bart van U. implicated in the January 2015 murder of his sister Lois in Rotterdam. (Bart van U. implicated in the January 2015 murder of his sister Lois in Rotterdam)

Bart van U. is completely insane and can therefore not be held accountable for the deaths of his sister and former politician Els Borst, the court in Rotterdam ruled on Wednesday. With the "insanity" conclusion, Van U. can not be sentenced to prison. The court is however imposing mandatory treatment in a psychiatric prison on the man.

The court considers Van U. "extremely dangerous" and assumes that he will need "very long-term, years long" psychiatric treatment in an institution, according to RTL Nieuws reporter Jeroen Wetzels, tweeting live from within the courtroom.

The Public Prosecutor demanded that Van U. be sentenced to 8 years in prison and mandatory treatment in a psychiatric institution.

Bart van U. confessed to killing both Els Borst and his sister Lois van U. During the trial he told the court that he killed Borst as part of a "divine mission". God told him to kill those responsible for the euthanasia law.

He also stated that Lois bullied him, wanted him euthanized and was trying to drive him to suicide. The last straw for him was when she offered him flat spongecake dessert treat called “eierkoeken”, while she knew he does not like it.

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