Posted on 08/18/2004 5:29:37 PM PDT by NCjim
A TEENAGER sent a telephone text message to her father as she lay dying in the boot of a car identifying his girlfriend as her murderer.
The desperate feat of Stephanie De Mulder, 18, whose battered body was found in Antwerp harbour at the weekend, has appalled and fascinated Belgium.
Her action has led to the arrest of the partner and her son, who believed they had executed a perfect crime.
Police said Maura van Lommel, 44, returned last Wednesday night from a Dutch holiday to the home she shared with Gilbert De Mulder at Battel, north of Brussels.
Along with her son, Andy Hermans, 23, Van Lommel woke Stephanie, who was due to leave for a holiday in Spain, and attacked her with baseball bats. Assuming her to be dead, they threw her body down the stairs, police said.
But Stephanie, though grievously wounded, was still alive when she was thrown into the boot of Ms Van Lommel's car. She managed to tap out and send an SMS to her father: "Help, daddy. Maura is killing me."
Mr De Mulder, who was in Spain, contacted the police and Patricia, his other daughter, and went to Battel to challenge Van Lommel.
The mother and son said Stephanie had left for her holiday as planned and her room showed no apparent trace of violence.
However, Mr Hermans confessed on Saturday, telling police Stephanie's body had been dumped in the Antwerp docks. It was found after a two-day search. Traces of blood were also found in Stephanie's bedroom, police said.
Ms Van Lommel, who has been charged with murder along with her son, continues to deny involvement.
The De Mulder family said Ms Van Lommel quarrelled with her partner's daughter but were at a loss to explain the violence.
Mr De Mulder told Het Belang van Limburg newspaper he believed Ms Van Lommel was jealous of his close relationship with his daughter. "I don't understand that," he said. "It is only normal that you have a strong relationship with your daughter. None of my relationships has ever come between me and my child."
Police said Stephanie had apparently lacked the strength to talk on the telephone. Her SMS was garbled but legible.
You can't say THAT anymore...
Of course, this being Europe, they'll probably get 6 months in the clink and 2 years probation.
Sad.
Wow . . . They might've gotten away with it twenty years ago.
THis is very sad but it is also confusing as to who is who and what the relationships were...
Jeez, what a message to get from your child.
Well, it's OK. They didn't use a gun.
I'm sure European "justice" will be served with a short sentence at a cushy "prison."
cut the bitches throat
Brave girl. God rest her soul.
If I got a message like that from my daughter, someone would have to sedate me because I'd lose my sanity on the spot.
If only bats had been banned, the poor girl might be alive.(sarcasm)
Richard
In this case, me being "dead or in jail" are the only two options that would have allowed the perps to live long enough to even deal with the law.
Actually, I'm kind of surprised they are allowed to sell baseball bats in Europe. I can't imagine most folks buying them plan to use them for the intended purpose...
Seems simple enuff to me.
Wicked step mother.
>>"Help, daddy. Maura is killing me." <<
I am speechless.
I'd lose my self-control. I'd also be waiting for these two vermin at the time of their release from confinement, and they would die as quickly as I could manage it, no ifs, ands, or buts.
"I'd also be waiting for these two vermin at the time of their release from confinement, and they would die as quickly as I could manage it, no ifs, ands, or buts."
Me, too.
Actually, bare feet on a block of ice and a piano wire noose come to mind. Duct-tape optional.
Regards,
GtG
Very creative.
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