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PT Thijs H. is appealing against the verdict of the Maastricht District Court. Two weeks ago the court sentenced Brunssumer H. to 18 years in prison and tbs with compulsory treatment for the three murders he committed.
The prosecution resigns itself to the verdict. "We would have liked it to be done now, especially for the relatives. We went for a high prison sentence combined with tbs. We got that. That is why we will not appeal," said the prosecutor's spokeswoman. Four weeks ago the prosecutor demanded 24 years' imprisonment plus tbs with compulsory treatment.
Psychosis
Thijs H. himself does appeal. "He was wrongly convicted of murder. Moreover, the court wrongly charged Thijs partly for his actions. After extensive and careful investigation, the Pieter Baan Center concluded that he acted entirely under the influence of a severe psychosis. Thijs H. was completely insanity-prone," is how his lawyer Serge Weening justified the move.
He believes the court's verdict does not do justice to the circumstances under which Thijs came to his actions. "The court misinterpreted facts. We look forward to the appeal with great confidence," said Weening and Job Knoester. The latter lawyer will take over from Weening's office mate Joost de Bruin, who will become public prosecutor. In addition to De Bruin, another of Weening's office-mates is transferring to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Delusion
For the court it is established that H. struck three times with premeditation: three times murder, therefore, twice on the Brunssummer heath and once in The Hague. The court doubts the veracity of H.'s delusion and believes he has exaggerated symptoms in order to round out the "desired insanity." The court recommends that the tbs start after six years. However, he must then remain in a tbs clinic for the entire sentence. The court anticipates long-term, necessary treatment.
According to H.'s lawyer Serge Weening, however, his medication caused an "escalation in the brain of Thijs," as a result of which he eventually committed the murders, one in The Hague and two on the Brunssummerheide. That H. allegedly lied, made alternating statements and adjusted his story is wrongly blamed on him, according to Weening: that fits in with recovering from his illness.
https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20200813_00171602/thijs-h-in-hoger-beroep-openbaar-ministerie-niet