Hague man prosecuted for Rotterdam teen's death
Roy B. from The Hague will be prosecuted for involvement in the death of 17-year-old Orlando Boldewijn from Rotterdam, the Public Prosecutor announced. According to the Prosecutor, the 27-year-old man saw the teenager lying in the water, but did nothing to help him, NU.nl reports.
Orlando disappeared after a date made via dating app Grindr in The Hague on February 18th. His body was found in a lake in the Ypenburg district more than a week later.
B. was previously arrested for involvement in Orlando's death, but was released a few days later. The police had "insufficient grounds" to keep him in custody, though he remained a suspect in this case.
Investigation revealed that the suspect saw Orlando lying in the water during the early hours of February 19th, but did nothing to help him, the Prosecutor said. A provisional indictment was drawn up against him. B. may be prosecuted for assault resulting in death, death through negligence, or failure to provide help.
So far the cause of Orlando's death has not yet been conclusively determined. The investigation is still ongoing. B. will be summoned once the investigation is complete.
"The relatives think it's nothing less than just that Roy B. is being prosecuted", Sebas Diekstra, the lawyer representing Orlando's family, said to the newspaper. "At the very least he did not offer help while he knew that Orlando was drowning. That alone is inexcusable."
