Uncle sentenced to 20 years for raping, killing niece

The court in Arnhem sentenced Johan P. to 20 years in prison and institutionalized psychiatric care on Wednesday. He was convicted of raping and killing his niece Mariska Peters in February last year, according to Gelderlander reporter Harm Graat tweeting live from within the courtroom.

The verdict was met with applause. The court found him guilty of rape and manslaughter. The sentence is higher than the 15 years in prison plus psychiatric care that the Public Prosecutor demanded.

P. wasn't present in court to hear his sentence. His lawyer asked for acquittal, claiming that manslaughter can not be proven. P. has 14 days to appeal against the sentence.

Then 21 year old Mariska left her house on February 8th last year to visit a friend. She never arrived. Her car was found abandoned two days later. On February 22nd sniffer dogs found Mariska's body in the Hatterse Vennen nature reserve. Investigation revealed that she was raped before being strangled to death.