A man who shot someone in the leg on a busy evening in a bar in the center of The Hague has not been convicted of attempted manslaughter but only of serious assault. The Public Prosecution Service had demanded six years in prison against 35-year-old JL for attempted manslaughter. The court sentences the suspect only for the assault to three years’ unconditional imprisonment
Shin
The shooting took place on August 6 last year in the Brazuka Bar in Herenstraat when two groups got into an argument over a seat in the busy cafe. According to witnesses, the perpetrator quickly pulled out a firearm and shot the victim in the lower leg, after which a major fight broke out. The victim was left on the ground with a shattered tibia. The witnesses say that there was no talk and that the shooter immediately started shooting.
The shooter fired once at the victim’s leg. Lawyer Michel van Stratum had argued that there could therefore be no question of an attempt to take someone’s life. The court agrees.
Compensation
Suspect L. has previous convictions for violent crimes. He has also used a firearm before. The court finds this an aggravating circumstance.
L. must also pay the victim more than 16,000 euros for material and immaterial damage.
