Prosecutor demands nursing home care for man, 91, accused of stabbing wife to death

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) wants Jan van B. to be taken in by a nursing care home with a security level "suitable" to his situation. "He benefits from structure and care, which should be available 24 hours a day," said the prosecutor. The 91-year-old man allegedly fatally stabbed his 84-year-old wife on January 19 and started a fire in their house on the Van Speijkstraat in Amsterdam-West. Van B. denies the charges.

According to the OM, Van B. is guilty of killing his wife and arson, but he cannot be held accountable due to his disease. "He never consciously chose for this," said the prosecutor. The suspect has been diagnosed with early-stage dementia.

This leads him to suffer delusions and losing a grip on the world around him, specialists have diagnosed. Van B. became increasingly suspicious due to this and thought his wife was unfaithful to him. His act was possibly done in a fit of rage and frenzy because he could not control his emotions. The woman had 16 stabbing wounds and died of her injuries a day later in the hospital.

The suspect gave varying stories about what had happened. For example, there was supposedly an argument about photos of his wife and things in the house and the fact that his dependent wife had dressed herself. According to Van B., the fire was caused by a short circuit in the lights. Before that, he had smashed them. He also pulled over a cupboard, which landed on his wife. His wife's injuries were possibly caused by shards of glass from the lights, he thought. Investigation has shown that this is impossible, as is the story that the woman had injured herself.

According to specialists, it is important that Van B. goes to a place where he is watched carefully, where there is a structure, and where he will receive medication. The OM is following this advice. The prosecutor has said that now they are searching for a place that will meet these requirements. He estimated that this could take another month and a half as there are not many places like this available. "Because there aren't many people your age who need a place like this."

The relatives have said that they understand the recommendation. The very elderly suspect who attended the case in a wheelchair got emotional at the end of the hearing when he once again denied killing his wife. "I have always been good to her," he said in tears.

A new hearing is set for December 2. At that point, it should be made clear whether a suitable place has been found for the suspect.

The victim's two children said their "biggest fear has come true." According to the children, they had consistently expressed concerns about their parents' safety after their father deteriorated physically and mentally and became increasingly unpredictable.

"We love both our parents terribly, and they loved each other a lot. Our father was a hard-working, caring man, and our mother was a beautiful, intelligent, and social woman. We still miss her every day. We also miss our father in the way he was before he got sick," it was said in the court.

The children said that it is clear that their father cannot be held accountable. "This is why it is very important for us that our father is protected and can live in a safe, closed environment where he can be lovingly cared for in the last phase of his life."