Man who held hostages in Ede, Vught moved to Groningen psychiatric clinic
Corné H., who took four people hostage at café Petticoat in Ede in March 2024 and later held prison staff hostage in Vught, has been admitted to a forensic psychiatric TBS clinic in Groningen. He was taken in after waiting roughly 1.5 years for placement, NOS reports.
His lawyer, Jan-Jesse Lieftink, confirmed to ANP that H. is now receiving treatment at the Mesdagkliniek in Groningen. H. completed a nine-month prison sentence tied to the Ede hostage-taking before entering the long placement queue for TBS treatment.
H. was declared not criminally responsible. He has autism and post-traumatic stress disorder, hears voices, and engages in self-harm.
In February, his defense requested urgent admission to a TBS clinic, arguing that lack of specialized care in prison and uncertainty over placement made him a “ticking time bomb.”
Lieftink also said after the Vught situation there had been, "Fortunately, no incidents yet,” but warned that further delay could lead to additional victims. He added, “We do not want that on our conscience.”
Authorities denied priority placement, citing severe overcrowding in TBS facilities and stating his case was not more urgent than others. More than 270 people are waiting for TBS treatment in the Netherlands.
By late May, H. was at the top of the waiting list for the Mesdagkliniek, though his lawyer said placement could still take months. Lieftink said he was later called by H., who informed him directly from the clinic that he had been admitted.
