The Heerlen man who was murdered Sunday afternoon in his hometown appears to have been stabbed to death with a peeler by his cousin. This is confirmed by sources around the investigation.
The 23-year-old Roland K. from Heerlen, originally of Hungarian descent, is detained on suspicion of murder. The fatal stabbing took place at the home of victim Robert Degens (38) on Bredastraat in Heerlen.
According to insiders, Degens and K., who were at odds with each other because of family troubles, got into an argument over a tenner. This got seriously out of hand after which Roland K. grabbed a paring knife, which he said he happened to be carrying, and allegedly stabbed his cousin.
The bleeding man was resuscitated in his backyard by emergency services. However, this was to no avail. Neighbors spoke of "a blood show that no one could survive." The fugitive Roland K. turned himself in to the police not long after the murder. He was extensively interrogated several times yesterday by the Heerlen criminal investigation department, but has so far invoked his right to remain silent.
Françoise Landerloo and Serge Weening, lawyers for the Heerlen suspect, speak of "a very sad case in one and the same family. Client has said to us at least a hundred times: 'I didn't want this like this'. He is completely off the map.
According to him, he was first attacked and received a few strong blows to his arms, after which he acted in self-defense."
