Significantly lower sentence on appeal for violent death of toddler

A 36-year-old man from Hengelo was sentenced on appeal to 12 years in prison for the death of 1-year-old toddler Xaja in October 2017. The man was the girl’s stepfather. She was killed with great violence and by administering amphetamine.

The man, Maick S., was sentenced to 22 years in prison three years ago for death of the girl. The judge then ruled that it was murder. But on appeal, the judge says that it cannot be established that S. killed the girl with a preconceived plan. That is why it is not murder but manslaughter. As a result, the penalty is much lower.

The child’s mother remains at large. She was previously acquitted by the court and remains so. According to the court, there is no evidence that the mother was with the child on the night her daughter was killed. She was previously accused of not taking care of her daughter.

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