Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for severe assault on Polish woman who later died

The court in The Hague has sentenced Marek W. to 10 years in prison for severe assault of a vulnerable and alcohol-addicted 40-year-old woman. W., who is 61 years old, also had a behavioral and freedom-restricting measure imposed "so that long-term supervision can be maintained after serving the detention.”

The victim passed away in July 2023 in an “extremely dirty home” without running water or gas on the Dierenselaan in The Hague. According to the court, evidence could not provide concrete proof that W. was responsible for the woman losing her life.

Specialists could not give the cause of death with certainty, but they suspect that it had to do with excessive alcohol usage. The Polish victim was covered in bruises, contusions, and hemorrhages. She had broken ribs and very serious vaginal injuries.

The court stated that W. had committed “very severe violence” over a period of several months. “He abused the weak and vulnerable position that the victim was in and took her in at his neglected, dirty home. He placed and kept her in a dependent position in an inhumane manner," the court said. “He saw the victim as his property. He locked her up several times in her bedroom and assaulted her.”

W. said during a previous court hearing earlier this month that he wanted to take care of the woman and was very concerned about her health. He said that he locked her up “to protect her.”

The punishment is lower than the recommendation from prosecutors. They had recommended a 16-year prison sentence against W.