Five underage asylum seekers were convicted on Monday by a court in Den Bosch for the gang rape of a 31-year-old homeless woman in a public park in the Dutch city of Helmond.
The attack occurred on Dec. 16, 2023, in the popular Burgemeester Geukerspark in the center of the city, sending shockwaves through the community and sparking fear among residents who had already expressed concerns about safety in the area.
The court heard that the victim, sitting alone on a park bench, was approached, surrounded, and forcibly dragged to a grassy area. There, she was beaten, raped multiple times, and robbed of her mobile phone. Police found her in the park with visible injuries, including a swollen nose and jaw, and her underwear around her knees after the brutal assault.
The case was heard behind closed doors due to the defendants’ ages at the time of the offense — they were 16 and 17. Further details about their countries of origin have not been disclosed.
Despite some now being adults, the court sentenced four of the suspects to juvenile detention terms ranging from 12 to 15 months. The fifth suspect, found guilty of sexual assault but not rape, received a four-month sentence. Additionally, four of the five were ordered to pay the victim compensation exceeding €15,000 each. The prosecution had called for two-year sentences for each of the defendants.
As Eindhovens Dagblad reported, the judge in sentencing said the defendants had left their victim on the ground like “old trash,” and the heinous crime had “aroused feelings of horror and indignation in society, and in particular, feelings of insecurity among women.”
The court also suggested that, as the defendants were all unaccompanied minors upon arriving in the Netherlands, a lack of adequate supervision and guidance may have contributed to the offense.
The case has sparked significant public unrest in Helmond, with residents expressing concerns about safety in the park, which is located near the city’s nightlife district. Following the attack, then-Mayor Elly Blanksma quickly installed cameras and improved lighting in the park to address safety concerns. She acknowledged the community’s shock, stating, “It is intense when a crime is committed so close by.”
In addition to their sentences, the convicted minors must participate in an intensive guidance program overseen by the youth probation service.
