Court upholds juvenile detentions in Helmond gang rape of homeless woman

The Court of Appeal in ’s-Hertogenbosch has sentenced two young men to juvenile detention for their roles in a gang rape in Helmond’s Geukerspark in December 2023. The 19-year-old received 12 months, including three months suspended, and the 18-year-old was sentenced to four months. Both were minors at the time of the crime.

Police said the assault occurred around 4 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, when the 32-year-old victim, who was homeless, was attacked while alone in the park. Officers found her partially undressed and helpless. “The rape still has a major impact on the life of the victim,” the court said. “A rape in a public park creates a sense of insecurity in society.”

The court determined that the 19-year-old actively participated in the gang rape, even though he did not sexually penetrate the victim. His role was classified as aiding and abetting. The 18-year-old was acquitted of rape but convicted of assault. “Although he – unlike three other co-defendants – did not sexually penetrate the victim, his contribution to the gang rape can be regarded as complicity,” the court stated.

Earlier investigations had identified four suspects from Dronten, Tilburg, and Waalwijk. Three were 17, and one was younger. Two men helped the victim and provided first aid before alerting police. After initial detentions, some teenagers were cleared, and further investigation led to the arrest of the two convicted defendants.

The sentences consider both the severity of the crime and the defendants’ minor status. Reports from the Child Protection Board indicate both have taken positive steps in their lives since the incident.

In addition to detention, the 19-year-old must pay 15,000 euros in damages to the victim. The 18-year-old, not previously ordered to pay damages by the lower court, must now pay 5,000 euros. The 19-year-old must also participate in supervision and guidance as part of his sentence.