Manodj B. said before the Amsterdam court on Monday that he stabbed Sumanta Bansi to death “in self-defense”. B. states that in February 2018 he argued with 22-year-old Bansi about money and then acted out of self-defense. Her body was not found until late last year.
According to B., the argument started in her bedroom. They had a disagreement about Bansi possibly taking money away. He allegedly took a knife from her, stabbed her to death “in a reflex” and buried her that same evening. According to The Telegraph B. also stated that he acted alone.
Last year, 43-year-old B. was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for killing Bansi. He maintained his innocence during the court hearings, but admitted after his conviction that he was responsible for her death. Nevertheless, he appealed and as a result another hearing took place this Monday.
It took until September 2022 for Bansi’s body to be found. This happened on instructions from B. Her body was found on a business park in Hoorn. In addition to the human remains, clothing and jewelry were also found there.
B. will be admitted to Pieter Baan Center
In the initial conviction of B., the court weighed heavily that Bansi’s parents did not know for years what had happened to their daughter. So they did not know how she had died and where her body was.
The relatives let their lawyer know that it was very confrontational to hear B.’s statement. They speak of a “missing puzzle piece”.
The court decided on Monday that B. will be admitted to the Pieter Baan Center (PBC) for an examination of his psyche. Bansi’s cause of death also needs further investigation.
The next session is on April 5. It is not yet known when the case will be dealt with substantively.
