Stalker gets 14 years for killing teen girl at Rotterdam school
Bekir E. was sentenced to 14 years in prison and institutionalized psychiatric treatment for shooting and killing 16-year-old Humeyra at her Rotterdam school in December last year. He was convicted of manslaughter, because there is not enough evidence to prove murder, the court said. Last month the Public Prosecutor demanded 20 years in prison with institutionalized psychiatric treatment for murder.
E. threatened Humeyra with death multiple times and there are indications that he specifically went to look for her, the court said, according to AD reporter Victor Schildkamp tweeting live from the courtroom. But it can't be said with certainty that E. knew what he was going to do when he found her. According to the court, the fact that he started shooting while running after the girl into a school seems to indicate that he did not stop to think about what he was doing.
The court said it realizes that there is a large difference between the maximum punishment for murder and that for manslaughter, and that this must feel unfair and unjust to Humeyra's loved ones.
The verdict got a very emotional reaction from Humeyra's family and friends, according to the Telegraaf. Her loved ones shouted and banged on the window of the public gallery, and heartbreaking sobs could be heard in the background as police officers tried to prevent family members from storming into the courtroom.
Humeyra was shot six times at the Rotterdam Designcollege in Rotterdam West on December 18th. She died at the scene. Bekir E. was arrested and confessed a short time later. Humeyra had a brief relationship with him in 2017. The teenage girl reported him to the police multiple times, filing charges of assault, stalking and threats against him. She had another meeting with the police scheduled for just a few hours after she was killed.
The Justice and Security Inspectorate later concluded that the government agencies horribly failed Humeyra when she sought help. Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb apologized to her family.
During the trial, the Public Prosecutor revealed that E. "executed" Humeyra. Witness testimony and camera footage confirm that he pointed the gun at her head and pulled the trigger. A few minutes later, he called the emergency services and said: "She lied to me about her age. She shouldn't have fucked with me", according to the Prosecutor.
E. claimed that he had no plans to kill Humeyra and that he shot her to stop her running away from him.
The Pieter Baan Center examined E. and concluded that the 31-year-old man has a serious personality disorder. They describe him as less gifted and someone who has difficulty interacting with others. His conscience is not well developed and he tends to respond impulsively and aggressively, they concluded.
E. and the Public Prosecutor have two weeks to appeal against the ruling.
