The 39-year-old woman who was shot dead by her ex in Gouda on Tuesday in front of their two children had reported him to police in June for physical abuse and possession of a gun, the public prosecution office has confirmed.
It has also emerged that Driekus K (53), who later committed suicide in the dunes at Scheveningen, spent 13 years in jail for the attempted murder of another girlfriend in 2009, Dutch media reported.
The woman, named only as Joeweela, had fled to a safe house for victims of domestic violence where she had been for two weeks. It is unclear how the man was able to trace her to the secret location.
Police and the public prosector have not commented on the reports except to say the woman’s situation was known to several social service agencies.
According to the AD, the man posted messages on social media expressing frustration at not being able to see his children.
“Don’t hurt the children and give them back their tata and don’t tell them I am sick in the head and in jail and that I’m going to kill you,” one of the messages read.
K was arrested on June 5 following his ex’s report to police and sentenced to two weeks in jail, for which he also blamed her.
The legislation is based on Clare’s Law, which was adopted in 2014 in Britain following the murder of 36-year-old Clare Wood in 2009 by her ex-partner. Wood was unaware of the man’s abusive past.
Worried relatives and friends would also be able to request access to the information. It will then be up to the police to grant access, taking into account privacy considerations.
Figures suggest that in the Netherlands a woman is killed every eight days. In six out of 10 cases the perpetrator is the woman’s partner or ex, who, in most cases, is male.
