During a hearing in Groningen on Thursday, the Dutch Public Prosecutor called for a 12-year sentence with mandatory psychiatric treatment for Azim A., who is accused of attempted murder.
Translation by Traci White
Azim A. is on trial for shooting Sidney Ruiter, a 21-year-old student, on the Korreweg on the 15th of October 2017. The Groninger Internet Courant reports that the student was left permanently disabled by the shooting.
The victim of the shooting appeared to have been shot at random rather than a deliberate target. According to the police, A. was quickly identified as a suspect and officers began a door to door search for him in the city of Groningen. The suspect went into hiding and was ultimately found and arrested weeks later inside a student flat on the 6th of November.
Right to remain silent
During the trial, A. choose to remain silent and declined to answer any questions posed to him, even after an emotional statement from the victim was shared with the courtroom. A. is also accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend and ram-raiding a shop that sold telephones.
The Public Prosecutor stated that a long sentence and involuntary psychiatric treatment would be appropriate given the severity of the charges. According to the prosecution, the accused shooter has expressed no remorse for his actions and represents a danger to society.
Four other individuals suspected of involvement with the shooting will appear in court on Friday for a hearing about their role in the violent altercation, A.’s weeks in hiding and threatening a witness.
