A narrow majority of the House of Representatives will vote today in favor of the cabinet proposal to increase the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter from 15 to 25 years. The idea behind the proposal is to narrow the gap between the penalties for manslaughter and murder. The maximum temporary sentence for murder is 30 years.
Politicians have been of the opinion for much longer that the sentences for these serious crimes are more consistent in balance must be brought. There was discussion about the exact amount of the penalty, also within the coalition.
Opposition party GroenLinks has submitted an amendment to the cabinet plan together with D66, ChristenUnie and Volt. These parties believe that the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter should not be 25, but 20 years. MP Joost Sneller of D66 sees no need for a further increase in sentencing. The current maximum is also rarely used. “That shows how rarely this pinches.”
Faster also points out that a law was passed not so long ago that makes convicts less likely to be eligible for early release. As a result, they have been stuck for a long time.
D66 against cabinet proposal?
The MP cannot yet say what his group will do if the GroenLinks proposal does not pass. D66 may then vote against Minister Yesilgöz’s bill with a maximum of 25 years. The group still has to decide on this in the weekly group meeting.
But even without the support of the two ruling parties, Yesilgöz can probably count on a majority. A tour shows that VVD, CDA, PVV, JA21, SGP, Groep Van Haga, BBB and Groep Den Haan will in any case support the amendment of the law. That is 76 of the 150 seats.
Forum for Democracy is still in doubt. If that party supports the cabinet proposal, there will be a majority of 81 seats. After the House of Representatives, the Senate must also approve it.
Humeyra
One of the reasons to increase the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter was the lawsuit against Bekir E. He shot his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend Hümeyra dead in Rotterdam after he had stalked her for a long time.
Initially, he could only be convicted of manslaughter, because a preconceived plan could not be proven. Many people found the sentence that the court imposed on him, 14 years in prison and TBS. Also the judge called on politicians to do something about the big difference in punishment between manslaughter and murder.
Ultimately, the appeals court found murder proven and Bekir E. was sentenced to 20 years in prison with TBS.
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