World
October 4, 2024 12:00
lelystad - Accused of exploiting two women, including rape and abuse, a 63-year-old Marion K. accused one of the victims of rape and abuse in the courtroom in Lelystad.
Accused of exploiting two women, including rape and abuse, a 63-year-old Marion K. accused one of the victims of rape and abuse in the courtroom in Lelystad.
Friday was supposed to be the substantive treatment of K.'s case. In March, the case was postponed because K. and her lawyer unsuccessfully challenged the court.
The unexpected accusation of K. toward one of her victims led to great indignation and emotions in the courtroom. The lawyer of the involved victim said they are considering filing a complaint against K. for defamation. When K. was taken away by the police to the holding cell, she kept repeating that it was "true".
According to the charges of the Public Prosecution Service, K. posed as a clairvoyant and ensnared the victims. One of the women is said to have been used as a house slave between early 2005 and late 2020 in Almere, Weesp, Amsterdam, and Kampen, severely abused, and repeatedly locked up. As a clairvoyant, K. claimed she could help the victim with "clearing negative energies" and resolving traumas.
Another woman allegedly spent five years under K.'s influence and was also exploited. She was reportedly stabbed by K. in 1996. The victims were allegedly pressured, robbed of things like bank cards, phones, and keys, and isolated from family and friends.
The court is very upset about the new postponement of the case, especially due to the "enormous burden" on the victims. A lawyer representing one of them said they were not surprised by this development. "We saw this coming. It's another sign that the suspect wants to control everything," said my client.
The prosecutor was not surprised either. "She has everyone in her grip. It fits the facts, it fits the outcomes of the behavioral assessment. She wants maximum control in every situation."
The trial has been rescheduled for February 14 next year. On December 20, there will be an interim session because K. is in pre-trial detention.