Suspected serial killer gets 14 years for one murder; acquitted of 2 others
On Monday the court in Amsterdam sentenced Sjonny W. to 14 years and five months in prison, with institutionalized psychiatric treatment, for the murder of Mirela Mos in 2004. The man was acquitted of killing Sabrina Oosterbeek and Moinque Roossien. According to the court, there is not enough evidence to prove that W. was also involved in these two women's murders, NU.nl reports.
In its ruling, the Amsterdam court acknowledged that the acquittal must be painful for Oosterbeek and Roossien's families, but said that it is not possible to convict the man for their murders based on the evidence.
The 46-year-old man always denied having anything to do with the three women's deaths. He was linked to their murders through DNA testing and because he was the last person to see Oosterbeek alive.
Oosterbeek disappeared in Amsterdam during the early hours of March 8th, 2017, after she went to W. to score drugs. Her body was never found, despite various searches. Because her body has not been found, and there is no physical evidence to link W. to her death, the court acquitted him of Oosterbeek's murder. According to the court, it can not be completely ruled out that she died a natural death.
The woman's family was visibly upset by the ruling, according to the newspaper. They had hoped that W. would be convicted and would possibly tell where Oosterbeek's body is in exchange for a lower sentence. Finding her is the most important thing for them.
Mirela Mos's body was found cut up and put into garbage bags in Amsterdam Zuidoost on November 15th, 2004. A DNA trace found on one of the garbage bags was linked to W. after a new round of testing in 2016. The court considered it proven that W. assaulted and strangled Mos, resulting in her death. "You got rid of her body in a degrading way", the court concluded. "She was horribly maimed and put away like old rubbish."
During the investigation into Mos's murder, W. was also identified as a suspect in Roossien's murder. A miniscule trace of Roossien's blood was found in Mos's car. And W. is the only connection the police could find between the two women. Roossien's body was found at the IJmeer on Uitdammerdijk in Amsterdam in 2003. According to the court, it is clear that she had been killed in the crime. But there is not enough evidence to show that W. was involved "or even had contact with her on the night of her death". He was therefore also acquitted of her death.
It is expected that the Public Prosecution Service will appeal.
