At the moment Hugo B. is back in Hoogeveen, after undergoing a psychological and psychiatric evaluation at the Pieter Baan Centre, at the request of the public prosecution office. The court in Almelo went over the reports with him last week during the session.
Hugo B. grew up in a religious, very isolated family in which his father was emotionally absent and his mother took care of her son in a neurotic and domineering fashion. The marriage of his parents was bad, there were a great deal of arguments and Hugo B. experienced constant pressure.
This expressed itself in tension headaches at a young age. In primary school the boy from Hengelo was bullied a lot, friends were not welcome at home and he was known as an outsider later in life. His UT-colleagues described him as quiet and withdrawn, but also as someone who could be unexpectedly rude and was continually looking for validation of his performance.
Judge T. Rikken wondered whether Hugo B. had contacted the UT at all. 'I wrote a letter in which I apologised and told them that this should never have happened', the former systems manager said. 'I received no response to my letter.'
The tensions became even greater when his father left home on 5 November 2002. Hugo B. felt betrayed, tense, fearful and angry. The experts in the Pieter Baan Centre concluded that Hugo B. could no longer release the tensions and that the arson should be seen as an expression of suppressed frustrations. According to the report he is therefore not fully accountable. The experts recommend treatment to prevent the chance of repetition. Hugo B. should free himself from his home situation, and in particular from his domineering mother who stands in the way of his independence.
'Could you explode like this again?', judge Rikken asked. 'I do not think so', Hugo B. answered. 'But I would very much like to be treated and start this as soon as possible.' A little too soon in the opinion of the court. B. turned out to have had an intake meeting at a clinic for forensic psychotherapy in the previous week. Rikken: 'I am shocked by the speed in which things are set up. This does concern a criminal case.'
That was apparent from the demand of prosecutor Damen. 'Suspect is not fully accountable, and therefore he can be held accountable for the criminal act to a certain degree. There is therefore certainly room for punishment. This is why I demand five years jail time and TBS with compulsory psychiatric treatment.' TBS with compulsory psychiatric treatment offers better guarantees, according to the prosecutor, than the milder form of TBS advised by the Pieter Baan Centre. Moreover this special form comes with reduced jail time, which is not acceptable to the prosecutor due to the seriousness of the facts.
Hugo B.'s counsel had a completely different point of view. 'TBS is far too severe, let alone TBS with compulsory psychiatric treatment. My client hasto be able to start his treatment within a reasonable period of time. He has a place in the clinic from 20 November. He needs a clear course of treatment. When he is sentenced to TBS with compulsory psychiatric treatment the remedy may be worse than the disease.'
The court passes sentence on 18 November.
transl. DvA
