Chris J. hearing delayed until 24 November over psychiatric report
A pre-trial hearing for suspect Chris J. has been moved from 2 November because the defence needs more time to read a lengthy psychiatric report.
A pre-trial hearing in the case against Chris J., who is suspected of murdering 17-year-old Lisa from Abcoude in August 2025,, has been moved from 2 November to 24 November. The court gave the defence more time to study the report from the Pieter Baan Centrum, where he was observed.
J. stayed at the centre longer than usual. The experts' report contains findings about his psyche. It usually also includes advice, for example on imposing a tbs measure. J. has previously said he acted because of voices in his head.
Defence lawyer Dané Kisteman said the report is very extensive and the defence received it only very recently. "The report is very extensive and very lengthy, and we only received it very recently," she said.
"It is all too short notice," Kisteman said. "We regret that too. We had also hoped the hearing could go ahead." She would not comment on what the report says.
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Follow the story: Pieter Baan Centrum
Pieter Baan Centrum
The Pieter Baan Centre is the Dutch forensic psychiatric observation clinic, where courts send suspects for an observation period so that experts can assess their mental state. Its report, written by its forensic psychiatrists and psychologists, gives the court information on the suspect's psyche and often advice on how to proceed with the case.
tbs-maatregel (terbeschikkingstelling)
The tbs measure is a Dutch court order for offenders who committed a serious crime and have a severe mental disorder, placing them in a forensic psychiatric clinic for treatment and supervision instead of an ordinary prison sentence. The court can impose it alongside or instead of a prison term, and it is reviewed and can be extended. It matters in criminal cases because the experts' advice on whether to impose it is often central to the court's decision.