MAASTRICHT - The mother (44) and stepfather (46) of a now 21-year-old woman from Kerkrade, who was sexually abused by them for years, were sentenced yesterday to three and six years in prison respectively.The court in Maastricht considers it proven that they jointly systematically abused and raped the girl from the age of 12 to 16, when she left the parental home. According to the court, it is not beyond any doubt that the mother stepfather started doing this when the girl was nine, as the victim states. "The court does not rule that out by any means, but there is in favor of proving that."

Nevertheless, the sentence for the stepfather was equal to the prosecutor's demand. The mother received one year less than had been demanded.