Thirty years old ‘butler murder was not murder – De Morgen

Thirty years old 'butler murder was not murder – De Morgen

09.30.14, 10u03 – Source: volkskrant.nl

© Marcel van den Bergh / de Volkskrant. Dick Leeuwerden.

A surprising turn in the three decades long-standing Dutch case of the so-called ‘butler murder’: there is no mention of murder, but a natural death. This is the conclusion physician and pathologist Frank van de Goot. The Dutch Supreme Court is now considering the seventh revision application in this case, a record.

In The Gutter his reports are misinterpreted by the lawyers. In an urgent letter he denounces “their unfamiliarity” with this matter. It is rare that an expert witness in this way to raise the alarm.

“At high levels of exception I do not say it, but once in medical, scientific terms, but in layman’s terms. Ms. Van Wylick, the alleged victim is deceased of a heart attack, “said the pathologist. He worked for years for the Dutch Forensic Institute (NFI), and is now attached to Symbiant, an expertise in the field of clinical and forensic pathology.

The Gutter examined at the request of lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops myocardial Van Wylcik. Among others, Anton Becker, former professor of the Academic Medical Center (AMC) and cardiovascular pathologist, endorses its findings.

12 years in prison
‘butler murder “about the death of the wealthy Dorethea of ​​Wylick. The 72-year-old woman married in September 1983 with her caregiver, the 39-year-old gay Dick Leeuwerden. Six weeks after the marriage she dies. From Leeuwerden is sentenced to imprisonment for 12 years. According to the then experts her death was probably the result of a fatal mixture of alcohol and drugs, administered by the “Butler”. In addition, two witnesses testified that Van Leeuwerden was out on the money from the millionaire. These witnesses withdraw their statements later, the police would have to put a burden to explain them. Pressure

From Leeuwerden (70) fights for almost thirty years for rehabilitation. Last year had a lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops and his team from the Innocence Project, which specializes in miscarriages of justice, the seventh revision request. The latest research from The Gutter, where he studied with new techniques and myocardial infarct could show closes according to them permanently from murder.

Misunderstood
This summer came ACAS, a committee that advises the Supreme Court on the review request, in a confidential report to the conclusion that the claim “no substantial new contained facts. ” After all, since the conviction of Van Leeuwerden fifteen experts have already spoken about the case. They all argue that cardiac death is most likely, but could not give one hundred percent certainty. According to the ACAS advice the new studies of Van Gutter differ enough from other reports.

The Gutter says that ACAS has understood his report. Incorrect He fears that the application for wrongly will beaches. Right Psychologist Peter van Koppen is not surprised by the findings of the ACAS. “That was set up to look in a different way to criminal proceedings but sometimes they are not sufficiently critical.”

The Supreme Court and the ACAS do not substantively respond because the procedure is still running. A spokesman has announced that the ACAS ‘can rely on all the skills that the Committee deems necessary. ”