Psychiatric detention for Pieper attacker

7 April 2004

AMSTERDAM — The 43-year-old man who attacked former Philips executive Roel Pieper and his wife with a knife last year was sentenced on Wednesday in Haarlem Court to TBS psychiatric detention with compulsory treatment.

The suspect — identified as P. T., of Amsterdam — entered the backyard of the Pieper family home in Aerdenhout on 31 May last year and stabbed both victims with a long kitchen knife, news service nu.nl reported.

Ricka Pieper was stabbed 10 times and suffered serious injuries to her neck, chest and back. She was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, but later recovered. Her husband suffered minor injuries before the couple’s son overpowered the attacker.

Psychiatric experts said T. was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the attack. He claimed he was being followed and threatened by an evil organisation led by Pieper.

T. said two weeks ago that he no longer considered Pieper to be the head of the organisation, but confessed he still thought it existed. Experts said the man still experiences psychotic episodes and posed a risk of committing a repeat offence.

The prosecution demanded the sentence of TBS detention with compulsory treatment. This means T. may be detained for life if psychiatrists continue to recommend his ongoing detention. His rehabilitation will be regularly assessed.

Subject: Dutch news