81-year-old sentenced to 10 years prison after killing wife, 72, over lack of sex

The court in Assen has sentenced 81-year-old Epko F. to 10 years in prison, matching the prosecution’s recommendation, for killing his 72-year-old wife, Ida. He killed her on 24 August and later disposed of her body in the Noord-Willemskanaal near Tynaarlo during the night. Her body was discovered the following day with a plastic bag placed over her head. During the trial, the man stated that something in him had snapped because his wife no longer wanted to have sex with him.

The court described the case as “a pure form of femicide.” F. was arrested shortly after his wife’s body was found. He admitted to striking her multiple times with his fists.

However, the court said there were strong indications that he used significantly more violence than he acknowledged. Several scenarios were considered regarding how the victim was killed, but all led to the same conclusion: F. is guilty of manslaughter.

The court found that the woman intended to leave F. and that he attempted to stop her from doing so. He had previously taken her bank card, house keys, and ID card. The night before she died, she had also searched on her laptop for alternative housing for herself.

The court said it remains unclear what ultimately led to the “outburst of violence.” In both possible scenarios, the judges noted that the key factor was that the victim did not do what her husband wanted, and that she ultimately paid for that with her life. The couple, who lived in Assen, had been together for over 50 years.

When deciding on the sentence, the court considered the defendant’s advanced age as well as his mentally and physically fragile condition.