Handyman in love with client convicted of killing her partner in home invasion

A 79-year-old man from Alblasserdam has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting a Belgian man in a villa in Kinderdijk. The District Court of Rotterdam convicted the man of manslaughter, rejecting the prosecution's claim that the act was premeditated murder.

The defendant acted as a free handyman for the villa’s resident and had developed a friendly relationship with her over the years. On the night of December 2, her boyfriend, a 74-year-old Belgian man, was shot in the head by the defendant while sleeping in the villa.

The judges in the Dordrecht courtroom heard testimony that the man then told the resident, "now you know how much I love you," and threatened her, saying he would also have to kill her to make it look like a robbery. Although she convinced him not to hurt her, he warned her to stay silent or he would kill her too, insisting he could track her down "anywhere in the world."

Initially, the resident told police that a dark figure shot her boyfriend and stole jewelry from the house. Three days later, the woman reported to the police that the handyman had shot her boyfriend. "Out of pure fear, I obeyed him; for three days, I had to play along with his game," she testified during the trial last month.

The court found supporting evidence, including security footage of the suspect’s car near the crime scene and gunshot residue in his vehicle. Despite evidence of a mental disorder, the court ruled that it did not significantly impact the crime, leading to the 12-year sentence. The defendant was also ordered to pay significant compensation to the victim’s family.

Witnesses stated that the victim had been visiting the villa as a guest. The locals noted that the handyman had frequently visited the resident to help with repairs around the house. The services around the house were done for free. Additionally, the two were often seen together, leading to speculation about their relationship.

Following the shooting, authorities conducted a large-scale investigation that included the use of sniffer dogs and the collection of forensic evidence. Police have urged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.