The trial against Jasper S., the man who murdered Marianne Vaatstra according to his confession, is taking on spectacular proportions. There is great interest in the lawsuit. The entire court is kept clear of other cases, because the space is used by interested parties who come to the Vaatstra case. There appears to be some form of disaster tourism: people who are not directly involved in the case still want to be there.
Content-related
The substantive hearing of the lawsuit against Jasper S. will take place on Thursday, March 28, 2013. The Vaastra family is well prepared for what awaits them in court. Jasper S. gives a statement on the spot and the judge asks him questions about details of the deprivation of liberty, rape and murder. The facts of that night of April 30 to May 1, 1999 are discussed extensively and in detail. It is very confrontational for Marianne Vaatstra’s family.
Details
Not that the family will hear many new things. Probably not, because the family is aware of what happened in detail. That doesn’t make it any less confrontational. The Vaatstras will hear about the intimate body places of their daughter and sister and things like that, with the outcome of the atrocity in mind, you don’t like to hear about your beloved child and sister.
Omrop
Omrop Fryslân, the Frisian regional television, was not given permission to broadcast the court hearing. Precisely because of the description of the body and the information about the girl’s intimate places, the court chairman decided not to allow a full broadcast. A sixteen-year-old is deeply embarrassed when such details are told about her and made public on television. Posthumously, they did not want to do this to the then sixteen-year-old Marianne.
Boundaries
“It must be done well,” says Marianne’s eldest brother, Freddy. It shouldn’t be a circus . However, the bottom stone must come up. The family already knows what happened before the start of the trial, but they also think it is important that the outside world learns what happened.
Charm offensive
Jasper S.’s lawyer is conducting a charm offensive weeks before the start of the trial. Jan Vlug repeatedly says that his client is so intelligent and kind. Any hint of a murderous monster image is smoothed over and scrubbed away. S. is an ordinary farmer, loving husband and caring father, Vlug wants the outside world to believe. The Vaatstras expect that the image of a normal man will disappear like snow in the sun during the trial. In order to get a clear picture of the murderer, it is necessary to reveal shocking details, the Vaatstras believe. At the beginning of 2013, S. was declared fully accountable.
Victim support
The Vaatstra family is assisted by Victim Support Netherlands. The agency, which works with professionals and expert volunteers, guides the relatives. Victim Support has prepared the family for the unpleasant questions they will hear and the answers that follow, possibly requiring even more detailed information. In order to make a good judgment, the judges must ask further questions. Victim Support Netherlands has knowledge of the case, to prevent surviving relatives from being unpleasantly surprised in court. There is therefore close cooperation between Victim Support Netherlands, the Public Prosecution Service and investigators who worked on the case.
Peace
Almost all relatives want to hear what S. has to say. They want to hear the details from his mouth. They would rather know the gruesome details than remain ignorant forever and fill in the gaps in the information themselves. Knowing will bring peace, they expect. The court has room for 150 interested parties. Some of the visitors will not have a direct connection with the victim, surviving relatives, suspect and his family, but will come to the case purely out of curiosity as a kind of disaster tourist. The court does not select the visitors. First come, first served. Three courtrooms are made available to the public, which is kept informed through a camera connection. Another two rooms have been set up for the press. Representatives of the Public Prosecution Service and the police have their own room where they can follow the hearing. Jasper S. is on trial in room A. There is only room for a select group.
read more
- Marianne Vaatstra – Arrest of the murderer
- Marianne Vaatstra – Jasper’s confession after DNA research
- Marianne Vaatstra – Details about the murder investigation
- Marianne Vaatstra – Letter of apology from murderer Jasper S
- Marianne Vaatstra – Jasper S. and the lawsuit