Cop not punished for shooting at car, injuring innocent civilian

The court in Den Bosch acquitted police officer Ronald V. on appeal for shooting an innocent passenger in a getaway car in 2013. When the case was first tried, the Kerkrade police officer was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison, AD reports.

V., his family and many colleagues were in court to hear the verdict.

The case revolves around an incident on August 22nd, 2013. The suspect of a robbery in Simpelveld the previous night was driving his car at Ronald V. and some of his colleagues. "That car was a bull, we were a red cloth", V. said in an earlier hearing. "I heard the growl fo the car, the squealing. This car will kill us, I feared." V. fired his gun and hit the passenger in the car, who was not involved in the previous night's robbery.  

According to the court in Den Bosch, V. first tried to open the car door, which would not open. He then pounded on the car and tried to break the car window. The car ept moving. The driver was hell bent on escaping, which means that other officers in the area could be in danger, the court said. There was thus conditional intent, justifying V. to fire. V. shot the passenger, there is no denying that. But the officer is not punishable, according to the court. He was therefor acquitted.

The verdict was met with loud applause in the court room. V. and his parents embraced each other, tears running down their faces. His lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops called the ruling a "boost for many officers".