Rape suspect admits to ruining teen girl's life in Kampen attack
Samuel T., suspected of raping a 17-year-old-girl in Kampen last year, confessed to the rape, but denies trying to kill her. "I have no words to explain how I feel. I have completely ruined her future", the 33-year-old suspect said in court on Thursday, De Stentor reports.
T. is facing charges of attempted manslaughter, rape, threat and theft. The Public Prosecutor believes there is enough evidence to prove all those charges and demanded 11 years in prison against the suspect. The victim and her family and friends attended the trial, though at one point the teen girl left the courtroom in tears.
Samuel T. claims he had a lot to drink on the night of the attack and did not realize what he was doing. At around 3:00 a.m. on September 3rd last year he pushed the girl from her bike on Flevoweg in Kampen. The victim fought back, but T. overpowered her, grabbed her by the throat and pulled her to the side of the road. During the struggle, the girl's clothes ripped. "Only after the torn clothes did I come up with the idea of raping her. I do not know why I did what I did", he said in court on Thursday. According to him, coincidence played a big role in his crime. "If it had been a man.. I did not want to rape beforehand."
T. stressed that he did not threaten to kill the girl or tried to do so. He added that he is ashamed of what he did.
According to the Public Prosecutor, T. did try to kill his victim - he choked her several times and pushed her head under water. The Prosecutor considers the victim very reliable. There is nothing to indicate that she is altering the facts, the Prosecutor said.
After the rape, T. stole the girl's phone, which is how the police tracked him down and managed to arrest him a day later.
The victim's mother read a statement in court. "It was the blackest night of our lives. She is so anxious and does not feel safe anymore", the mother said. "Why did you do this? She had to physically rehabilitate for a long time and was called a whore. I was told that I was a bad mother."
The victim's father read a statement on behalf of his daughter. "The night you raped me changed my future. I can't breath anymore. I tried to fight, but was dragged away. I was scared to death. Because of the fear of death, I was numb. What I felt was pain. Everywhere. I'm ashamed of what you've done to me. I've lost my old life."
The experts who assessed T.'s mental state ruled him completely accountable. According to them, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and an alcohol problem, but is still capable of planning his actions.
