Qld: Dutchman jailed for nine years for killing housemate

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2004
Qld: Dutchman jailed for nine years for killing housemate

A depressed Dutchman has been jailed for nine years for killing his 67-year-old housemate
in Brisbane.

MARTEN DOL was found guilty by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury of involuntary manslaughter
over the stabbing death of inventor WILLEM VAN DER HORST in their home in Cleveland in
April, 1999.

After an eight day trial, the 43-year-old has been acquitted of murder but convicted
of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The hair salon owner, who was on medication for a major depressive illness and back
pain, was found to be suffering an abnormality of the mind - which impaired his mental
capabilities.

The court was told DOL stuffed a tea towel in Mr VAN DER HORST'S mouth to stop him
talking, cut his wrist, crushed sleeping tablets and put them in his coffee and stabbed
him twice in the back.

AAP RTV ap/sc/jo/rp

KEYWORD: DOL (BRISBANE)

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