Twin sister: Triple homicide suspect took "part of myself" by killing Romy, 14
Tensions and emotions again ran high in the court of Rotterdam on the third day of the trial against Fouad L., accused of murdering three people in Rotterdam in September 2023. Today, the surviving loved ones of L.’s neighbor Marlous and her 14-year-old daughter Romy spoke. Romy’s twin sister accused L. of taking away part of herself, NOS reports.
“Because of you, our lives will never be the same again. I really blame you for that,” Romy’s twin said. “The loss of Romy feels like part of me is gone. I feel lost.” Romy’s older sister expressed concern for their little brother. “I’m worried about him. He’s too young to understand everything properly and I can see that he’s having a hard time.”
Romy’s father addressed L. directly. “Did you get what you wanted? Was it worth it, so much loss, sorrow, and pain? When it became clear that you would not get your medical degree, you came up with a bizarre plan and people had to die. I cannot understand it.” He praised Marlous, who reported L. to the police for animal abuse, resulting in him threatening her and ultimately killing her and their daughter. “What Marlous did was the right thing. She was so strong and brave not to give in to your threats. And others have also been brave, preventing you from becoming a doctor.”
L. has already confessed to shooting and killing first Romy and then her mother in their home on Heiman Dullaertplein in the Rotterdam district of Delfshaven on 28 September 2023. He then went to Erasmus MC, where he gunned down the 43-year-old lecturer and general practitioner Jurgen Damen. He started fires in both his home and the lecture hall where he murdered Damen. The lecturer’s loved ones spoke in court on Tuesday.
“My last image of Jurgen is him explaining the material with a big smile. The next image is Jurgen in a box in the hall of the Erasmus,” medical student and Damen’s assistant Jasper said in court on Tuesday. He was standing next to Damen when L. shot him dead at close range. “You turned my life into hell. I still panic every day. I can’t call it living, I’m surviving. I see shot after shot and I'm scared of loud noises. It scares me to death.”
Jasper also feels guilt. He and the other students fled while L. turned off the sprinklers and set a fire. “I left Jurgen behind and every night I think about how I could have stopped you. There are moments when it felt better to be gone, but you are not worth it.”
“I can understand you in some way. Your dream of becoming a doctor fell apart. You said that it was your calling. But can’t you see that you weren’t suited to be a doctor? You have no empathy, no regrets. Jurgen paid with his life for wanting to prevent you from harming so many people as a doctor,” Jasper said. “I want you to remember one thing: I am going to become a doctor, a good doctor, just like Jurgen. A title that you will never bear. Above all, I will be a good person, just like Jurgen. Something that you will never be.”
Damen’s wife, daughter, and sister decided against attending the trial, but they did submit written statements. His daughter said she was initially not worried when she heard about the shooting at Erasmus MC but became increasingly worried when her dad did not respond to her texts. She panicked when the police showed up at the door.
Damen’s wife said that the shine has gone out of her life. His sister also can’t enjoy life anymore and wakes to a dark cloud over everything each morning. She is also proud of what her brother achieved with his life. “He encouraged his students to become better doctors.”
L. had his turn to speak on Monday. He said that anger and frustration about the fact that he wouldn’t graduate made him come up with “a terrible plan” that “a lot of people had to die.” He said he feels “distance” from what he’s done. “It’s a feeling. I am indeed guilty and logically responsible, but I don’t feel it.”
