01 Aug 2023 at 18:06
The man who, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), was involved in a shooting in Roosendaal and the subsequent fatal car accident in January will remain in custody for longer. He is no longer suspected of attempted murder.
Nineteen-year-old Piet van O. from Drunen in Brabant had to appear in court in Breda on Tuesday. He arrived walking on crutches. After the accident, he was in a coma for some time.
“It is a miracle of God that you got out of the car alive,” concluded the court chairman. Van O. agreed that he had angels on his shoulder and called it “very sad that an innocent man died on the highway”. He is also sad about the loss of his friends.
The fatal chase took place on January 15. Van O., together with two others, would have opened fire on Burgerhoutsestraat in Roosendaal. A nineteen-year-old man was injured.
The three fled in their own car and were chased by the police. On the highway near Prinsenbeek they collided with another car while driving at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour.
Van O. Sole survivor occupant of getaway car
The accident killed three people. Two of them were in the getaway car. It concerns the 33-year-old driver from Tilburg and a 17-year-old boy from Harreveld. Van O. was the only occupant of the getaway car to survive the accident.
The third fatal victim, a 54-year-old from Rotterdam, was in the other car. His co-driver and her daughter from Antwerp were injured.
Men would have wanted to steal weed, money or a car
The Public Prosecution Service no longer suspects Van O. of attempted murder in the shooting, but of complicity in attempted manslaughter. According to the judiciary, the men intended to steal a batch of weed, money or a car under threat of violence that day.
Van O. denies that the men intended to rob or rob someone of weed or money. He also denies being the shooter and claims he was shot himself.
Shortly after waking up from his coma, he told police that his group was threatened with a gun while buying weed. “My client just tried to stop the violence by pushing the gun down,” his counsel said.
The next session is on October 27. That will be another introductory session.
2023-08-01 16:06:29
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