Man confesses to pushing acquaintance in the water while knowing that he couldn't swim

A 42-year-old man from The Hague has confessed that he pushed an acquaintance into a canal in The Hague in the summer of 2023, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) reported. The 51-year-old victim could not swim and was found dead in the water at around 7:15 p.m. on August 25, 2023.

The suspect was arrested two weeks ago for shoplifting. He then became emotional at the police station, which led to him telling them about the incident. He is currently detained under suspicion of manslaughter.

The OM reported that the suspect and the victim knew each other from the streets. An exchange of words led to the man pushing the acquaintance into the water on the Pletterijkade before leaving him there. “While he knew that the victim could not swim, was under the influence, and was not able to get out of the water himself at that spot.”

Police are investigating what led to the incident and have called on any witnesses to the crime to report to the police. The pre-trial chamber of the court in The Hague extended the suspect's pre-trial detention by 90 days on Wednesday.