Victim in 1994 rape finally gets her day in court; Suspect can’t recall Nijmegen assault

The Public Prosecution Service has recommended four years in prison and compulsory psychiatric treatment at a TBS facility for Angelo L., in connection with a rape that occurred more than 30 years ago in Nijmegen. L., now 60, is alleged to have assaulted a 19-year-old woman on the morning of January 14, 1994, using threats of violence. "The impact of this shocking rape is still being felt by the victim," stated the prosecutor.

The victim was on her way to the train when L. is said to have seized her by the waist in Nijmegen’s Dukenburg district and forced her away under threats of violence. He allegedly raped her in a nearby wooded area. In court, the victim stated that she continues to struggle with the effects of the attack.

"The suspect demonstrates a serious disregard for people’s physical integrity, particularly that of women," the prosecutor stated. He noted that the case file includes multiple accounts from women detailing violent relationships with L. "This paints a portrait of a man who has perpetrated violence against women for 30 years."

At the end of 2024, L. was arrested after a DNA match linked him to the case. He claims he has no memory of the rape. He is additionally facing allegations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. He is accused of striking her in the face, cutting her legs with a knife, and confining her in 2024. L. denies the claims.

Prosecutors say the suspect requires treatment. He has been diagnosed with mental disorders and also faces issues with alcohol and drugs. "If left untreated, this volatile mix is likely to result in further violent and potentially sexually abusive behavior toward women," the prosecutor stated.

According to the case file, several women reported that L. became violent when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At the beginning of the hearing, L. expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness.

L.’s lawyer requested that the court acquit his client. He explained that L. acknowledges assaulting the victim with violence and threats, but that offense is now time-barred.

L. denies committing the rape. "He does not claim the complainant is lying; he says he simply cannot remember," the lawyer said. L. admits to recalling taking the victim but does not remember having raped her. Semen from L. was found on the victim’s pants and underwear, as well as on leaves in the nearby bushes, which the defense says proves a sexual offense but not penetration. The attorney described the evidence in the other cases as "extremely weak." Several witnesses reportedly saw the rape but did not step in.

L. has admitted to taking the woman to the small pond, but says he has no memory of what happened afterward. "I drank heavily and used a lot of drugs at the time," he said. "What the woman says may be true, but I don’t remember." He previously told police that he had taken the victim by force, had masturbated, but did not rape her, and was not carrying a knife.

“I can finally tell you what you did to me,” the victim of the rape in Nijmegen told L. in court in Arnhem on Tuesday. The woman described the events of that morning, how she resisted, and how she reported the assault to the nearby police station afterward. "Emotionally, I shut myself off to survive and to ensure you would be caught one day."

In her testimony, she also spoke about the lasting impact and how she sought to rebuild her life. "I wanted to prove that this would not destroy me, that you would not diminish me. That same year, I earned my diploma, continued my studies, entered a relationship, raised three children, and built a successful career. I accomplished everything the outside world said I never would. But what I have never regained is my freedom and my sense of innocence."

“For three decades, my client has lived with the consequences of what happened to her,” her lawyer, Sébas Diekstra, said. “For 30 years, the truth existed, yet no one was held responsible.”

The court will deliver its verdict on Friday, March 20.