Court orders psychiatric treatment for woman who threw her son off a balcony

The court in Arnhem has sentenced a 42-year-old woman to mandatory psychiatric treatment in a TBS facility under certain conditions after she threw her 5-year-old son from the balcony of a fifth-floor apartment in Zutphen last year. The boy fell 15 meters but survived, though he suffered serious injuries, including a collapsed lung.

The woman was in a psychotic state at the time of the incident. A psychiatrist and a psychologist concluded that she cannot be held criminally responsible for her actions.

The court accepted this advice and therefore declared Adriana P. fully unaccountable, imposing no prison sentence. However, she must undergo treatment. “The complex problems in this case and the risk of reoffending require long-term compulsory treatment,” the court stated.

“She heard voices telling her to sacrifice her son that day. She believed the boy would fly from the balcony,” the court added. The woman had claimed during the hearing that she did not intend to kill her son, but the court rejected that argument. “Based on her earlier statements, the court considers it proven that she attempted to kill him, under the influence of the voices in her head.”

Police had visited the home about an hour before the incident after P. was heard screaming from the balcony. They left once she had calmed down. Less than an hour later, she threw her son off the balcony. The boy is now living with a foster family.

The court’s ruling is in line with the prosecution’s recommendation.