After sixteen years of violence, she had finally found the courage to leave her partner for good and report the crime, a woman said in the court in Assen on Tuesday.
The criminal case against her ex-partner (42) from Nieuwe Pekela would be heard in court. The place where the suspect normally sits remains empty.
The victim and her lawyer Nicolien Groeneveld are there. To the disappointment of the woman and the people who came to support her, the case is canceled. On Monday, the suspect sent an email to the court with a request for a postponement because he was unable to find a lawyer in time. Because everyone has the right to the assistance of a lawyer, the court, in its opinion, had no choice but to adjourn the case.
Throat constricted
At the hearing, it will be briefly explained what the man is suspected of: systematic abuse of his then partner in homes in Schoonoord, Zwiggelte and Odoornerveen, villages where the couple lived between 2011 and the end of 2021.
He allegedly kicked and hit her over the years and also squeezed her throat on occasion. The Public Prosecution Service sees the latter as attempted manslaughter. In 2017, according to the public prosecutor, he hit the woman so hard in the head with a phone that she went blind in one eye.
After the short hearing, the woman and her lawyer told Groeneveld that a report had been filed against the man at the beginning of 2022. They have not been told why a trial has only now been scheduled. A few months before she filed a complaint, she finally had the courage to leave him, she says. The woman says she was abused by her then partner for 16 years.
Had to lie to doctors
She had to be treated by a doctor several times, such as when her eye was crushed and also when her teeth were smashed. “I lied to doctors about the cause of my injuries, because he was always there. I was terrified of him.” According to her lawyer, she has filed a complaint several times in the past, but has always withdrawn it out of fear.
More than two years ago she fled, this time for good. “Even though he threatens me with death.” At first she did not want to report the crime anymore. “But I did it anyway. I have to do this to get closure.” The woman finds it terrible that the criminal case has been postponed. “I was so tense. Now I can’t close it yet.” It is not yet known when the criminal case will be heard.
Tags: Woman Drenthe escapes years abusive relationship Blinded eye smashed teeth
