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27 January 2004
AMSTERDAM — The 35-year-old man accused of stabbing an employee of an Amsterdam West school for students with hearing and speaking difficulties last week claims that he was sexually abused by the 59-year-old victim.
The Public Prosecution Office (OM) said on Tuesday that the culprit claims to have been abused over a long period, news agency ANP reported. The abuse could thus represent a motive for the attack.
The abuse allegedly occurred between 1975 and 1980 and the OM is investigating the man’s claim, but said inquiries will prove difficult because the case is 20 years old and authorities cannot question the stabbing victim.
The stabbing occurred at about 3pm on Friday in the victim’s office. The suspect is a former student of the school, Mgr. Hermusschool, which teaches about 180 primary-school age students with hearing, speaking and language difficulties.
The victim underwent emergency surgery at the VU hospital in Amsterdam and is in a critical condition. The man — identified as Peter, who worked at the school for about 20 years and gave guidance to other teachers — is in the intensive care unit.
Henk Bakker, the director of the Effatha Guyot Groep, which includes the Hermusschool, said that the victim is on an artificial breathing apparatus and has not yet been able to talk.
School lessons resumed on Tuesday morning after teachers met alone first to prepare for the return of students, none of whom witnessed the stabbing. Teachers have received help from the Victim Assistance Bureau.
The atmosphere at the school — which has expressed dismay and shock in response to the stabbing — on Wednesday was calm as staff welcomed children and their parents. Support was on hand where needed.
The suspect has confessed to the stabbing and an Amsterdam judge extended his remand in detention by an extra 10 days on Monday.
The attack came after deputy headmaster Hans van Wieren was shot dead by a student at the Terra College school in The Hague on 13 January. The suspect in that case, 17-year-old Murat D., has confessed and remains in custody.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
Subject: Dutch news