Man, 80, sentenced to 240 hours community service for convincing woman to commit suicide

An 80-year-old man from Breda was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, which is the highest possible amount, on Friday because the court in the Hague ruled that he had convinced a 32-year-old woman from Bodegraven to commit suicide. Hans D. was also handed a conditionally suspended sentence of 14 months in prison. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) had recommended 14 months in prison against D. with seven months of these conditionally suspended.

The case concerns a woman who died in November 2021 after she had taken the suicide pill “middel X.” She was suffering from bipolar disorder, delusions, and acquired brain damage, among other things. She was also mentally handicapped. She had already made attempts to take her own life in the past.

D. was in contact with the woman via the Cooperative Last Will (CLW) organization, where he worked. She did not know D. prior to this. The suspect is not a psychologist or a doctor, he is a retired banker. They sent each other messages daily.

The suspect wrote to the woman that she almost had eternal peace and that it would be "a celebration when your eyes are finally closed and your breathing is over." She took the fatal dose around three weeks after their conversations started.

The court said that it was "malicious and extremely careless" that D. only spoke to the woman via WhatsApp “while he barely knew her and knew nothing of her past. He was not a doctor and could not judge whether this was a case of endless suffering.”

According to the court, the woman was having doubts about whether she really wanted to die, and they feel the suspect encouraged her to continue with the plans to take her own life at this time. “He helped her to keep her carers and family away. Partly because of his actions, she carried out her intention."

The suspect feels that what he did was legal. “He limited himself to moral support and giving information. He did not provide a pill and did not say where she can buy them.” His lawyer said after the verdict.

Despite this, he is unclear whether they intend to appeal the verdict. “He is 80. It takes years to complete an appeal. The question is whether there is any point to this or we should decide to let it lie.” The man no longer works for the CLW.

The victim’s mother requested 17.500 euros in damage compensation. Her claim was declared inadmissible, as that case has to be heard before a civil judge.

It is rare that a person is convicted for aiding a suicide. A guilty verdict in a suicide-aiding case came in 2005. Another two people were found guilty of this in 2009, and a suspect was acquitted of these charges in 2019.