Prosecutors demand 12 years over Vlijmen woman's death

Prosecutors have demanded twelve years in prison and TBS with compulsory treatment (tbs met dwang) for Coen K. (36), who is on trial over the death of his girlfriend Jessica Brants (38). The district court will give its verdict on Friday 20 November at 13:00.

Brants died in July last year after violence in her own home in Vlijmen, in the presence of her then 3-year-old daughter. She died in hospital in Tilburg. Injuries were found in 21 places on her body, 16 of them on the head and neck.

Experts consider K. not fully accountable at the time. He has several disorders and had used alcohol and potent drugs. The prosecutor said he cannot return to society untreated. She rejected TBS with conditions because the prison term would then be at most five years, which she said does not do justice to what he did. She argues that he fuelled his disorders with alcohol and medication.

The defence lawyer asked for TBS with conditions instead, and a lower sentence because of strongly diminished accountability. He argued that K. had no intention of killing his girlfriend and that the damages claimed are far too high. Relatives are claiming about four hundred thousand euros.

Brants's mother told the court: "It is monstrous what you have done." In his closing words, K. said: "The mistakes I have made are unforgivable." He asked the court to take into account his need for professional help with his addictions.