Fatal robbery of Amsterdam woman, 80, may have been more violent than suspect admitted
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is conducting further investigation into the fatal assault on 80-year-old Irene Winkel, who died after an encounter with a man posing as a police officer in her Amsterdam Nieuw-West home. The 21-year-old suspect, Oussama El G., admitted to hitting the woman once in the face, causing her to fall and ultimately die.
During Wednesday’s first preliminary hearing, the prosecutor provided this information in the case against El G. (absent from the courtroom) and his 23-year-old co-defendant, Ben H.
The OM says the victim’s injuries raise questions about the suspect’s version of events. On August 13, El G. is said to have tricked his way into Winkel’s apartment, pretending to be a police officer checking the locks. When the woman grew suspicious and attempted to expel him, he allegedly used force. His lawyer maintains that he never intended to harm her.
According to the prosecution, H. phoned the victim to inform her that his “colleague” El G. would be coming, claiming Winkel was on a “burglar list.”
Following the attack, El G. reportedly fled with the victim’s jewelry and later returned to the apartment to remove traces of his presence. The court granted the prosecution’s request for a personality assessment of El G. at the Pieter Baan Center, but the suspect has announced that he will refuse to participate.
The prosecutor described Winkel’s violent death as sending “a massive shockwave.” He said the victim was “very well loved, particularly for living life so fully,” which made it all the more shocking that she failed to see the trick immediately. “It demonstrates how sophisticated these criminals can be,” he noted. “Anyone could fall victim.”
Police took a third suspect, a 26-year-old man, into custody on November 10. A female suspect was released earlier, and her case has been closed by the prosecution. The court denied a request to free suspect H., who will remain detained until at least the next preliminary hearing on February 4.
