Woman murdered in Gouda reported ex in June; Previously convicted for attempted murder
Those in the Netherlands in life threatening danger should immediately dial 112 for emergencies, and anyone suffering from depression or contemplating suicide can call 113 Zelfmoordpreventie at any time by dialing either 113 or 0800-0113, or by visiting 113.nl.
The 39-year-old woman shot dead in Gouda on Tuesday reported her ex, the suspected shooter, to the police in early June. He was arrested and in custody for two weeks, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirmed to NOS. The 53-year-old man from Eindhoven was previously convicted of attempted murder on another of his exes.
Driekus K. shot the woman in broad daylight, in the presence of their two children, on a Gouda street on Tuesday afternoon. Bystanders and first responders tried to resuscitate her, but it was to no avail. K. was found seriously injured in the dunes near Schevningen on Tuesday night. He died. The police suspect suicide.
RTL Nieuws and De Telegraaf reported that the woman had been in hiding in a women’s shelter for victims of domestic violence. It is unclear how K. discovered where she was. The addresses of domestic abuse shelters are kept secret to protect the women accommodated there.
RTL Nieuws reported that K.’s social media posts showed he was angry with the woman because he hadn’t seen his children for a while. He repeatedly wrote that he was looking for his two children. “I’m fighting for you both and will never give up on you, even if it’s the last thing I do in my life,” he wrote three weeks ago.
In 2009, K. was sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted murder of an ex-girlfriend. A year earlier, he shot at her eight times in front of their son. He was also convicted of aggravated assault on her brother.
