BREDA - The public prosecutor in Breda on Wednesday demanded 12 years in prison against 54-year-old car dealer Kees-Jan W. for strangling his wife Wendy Rikkers (46) in their home on the Huizersdijk in Zevenbergen.

"With brute force, W. strangled his wife, that is certain to me," said Officer Hannah Huizinga. "On the night of September 22-23 last year, Kees-Jan wakes up and walks downstairs. He sees Wendy's cell phone lying there and begins to read her messages while she is still asleep. This is how he discovers that his wife has a lover. He is out of his mind runs to the bedroom abuses her terribly and then strangles her with his hands."

When the judge asks Kees-Jan if he killed Wendy, he replies, "I didn't do it, I think she did it herself."

'Voice says I didn't do it'

Kees-Jan W. explained how he experienced the night. "I woke up around 2 a.m. and went downstairs. There Wendy was apping, I read that she had contact with her new boyfriend. I then ran upstairs furiously. From then on I can't remember anything. When I woke up at six o'clock she was lying dead beside me. A voice in my head says I didn't do it."

Experts suspect he is faking his amnesia and believe he is fully culpable. "He is pretending. W. thereby hangs a smokescreen to cover up his actions, he lies," the officer said.

Self strangulation ruled out

The pathologist stated that Wendy was strangled with her hands and that self strangulation was almost impossible. "Hardly any dna material was found on Rikkers' neck, four of the six traces were from her, a small amount from a man," pleaded attorney Francoise Landerloo.

"A towel was found with brown stains that has not been further examined. Nor can it be ruled out that my client's amnesia is not feigned. It can therefore be argued that it is possible that Rikkers killed himself. Therefore, I claim acquittal. The couple had been married for 11 years and together have three children aged 7, 10 and 13."

The verdict in the case is due Oct. 11.

The defendant(s) in this case are assisted by: