22 year old man from Venlo died (after being beaten for his remarks)

Algemeen Dagblad ^ | October 24 2002

[knighthawk]

Because he demanded respect for elderly people, the 22 year old René Steegmans from Venlo was assaulted and later died of the wounds he recieved. Doctors declared him clinicly dead already yesterday. After the assault, the two perpetrators did some shopping at the store where in front of it the victim spoke to them after they almost ran over an elderly woman with their scooter.

They bought, amongst other things, snacks for a party. At the counter one of them said: "I think I beaten him half-dead". The 18 year old boys, one of Dutch origin, and one of Moroccan origin, are already known by the police for their criminal past. They were arrested in the store. They will be taken to be procecuted tomorrow. They will be accuitted for death though violence.

Storemanager A. Peters puts flowers on the ground at the spot where Steegmans Tuesday was assaulted. He sees the faces op the attackers. "They did not show any trace of emotion. As if it was normal."

The perpetrators speeded across the parking in front of the store with their scooter. They almost hit an elderly woman. René Steegmans adressed the boys about their behavior with the words: "Have a little respect for elderly people". One of the boys (guess which one, answer follows later) dealt a blow to Steegmans. Even after he fell to the ground, Steegmans recieved several kicks. When he stopped moving, the perpetrators left the victim behind bleeding.

An emergency helicopter transported the victim to the Radboud-hospital in Nijmegen where the doctors said René Steegmans was already clinicly dead.

A day after the crime there is much dissappointment at the parking in front of the store. The place where Steegmans was assaulted has been marked by the police. A lot of visitors stand still and speak about their inability to do anything. Some are angry no one helped when it happened, while about 20 people were withness to the assault. "The people just stood there, they also are guilty", an angry woman says. After talks with the family it was decided there will be a silent march. The parents do not want to talk to the media. "I am not capable yet", according the father of René.

In front of the store more people speak about that no one hepled Steegmans. A 22 year old man says he would have certainly have helped. "When a few people decide to help, something like this does not happen. It is unimaginable that people did not act."

According the manager of the store the withnesses didn't even got the time to react. For that the assault took too short. Also the people were in total shock. "Most people directly called the police. That is also what police advises: do not interfear, but call 112."

A friend of the woman who was almost hit by the two boys, confirms she was so shocked that she couldn't even move. To conquer her fear, she went to the store today. Her friend doesn't dare to leave the house. "Of course I wanted to help the boy, but I just didn't dare to do it."

According the woman the other people also didn't took action because one of the attackers was from Moroccan origin. "You can take on one of them, but they will come back with 10 or 20 of them. They always know where to find you. If the attacker was a Dutch boy, people would have certainly acted. There is a lesson to be learned."

The Moroccan community in Venlo reacted shocked. Mohammed Loufit, from the foundation Moroccan Activity Centrum and chairman of the mosque in Venlo: "Such a sad act could have been done by some one from every society and with any nationality. I hope the family of the victim thinks about that. The first generation Moroccans never caused trouble. The suspect was born in the Netherlands. He is from the second generation, I know his parents well. They cannot sleep because their son was involved with such a thing. They think it is very bad."

Mayor J. Schrijen from Venlo was very troubled yesterday. He spoke about 'disbelieve, astonishment, the feeling of being powerless and anger'. "I can imagine that people were in shock and could not move. I don't know how I would act as a citizen."

The mayor spoke to the parents of the victim yesterday. the citycouncil Venlo want to speak as soon as possible with spokespeople from the Moroccan society in the city. Youths from Moroccan origin cause problems in several places in Limburg (province) for a long time.

This morning the citycouncil placed flowers at the store at the Sinselveldstreet, in honor of the victim. At the website (http://www.venlo.nl/) people can post their reaction.

The National Foundation Against Pointless Violence wants a public debate about agression and violence. Spokesman Bart Wisburn: "This can only be achieved as all parties take part, take responsibility and give financial aid. Today a lot of parties are talking about morals and values, but we need to act now. Not only the politicians need to give their priority, but everyone is resonsible.

[livius]

How depressing. And it's happening all over Europe.

I spend a lot of time in Spain, and much of their crime (something like 60%) is committed by Moroccans. And whenever people get fed up with it, they're accused of being "racists".

[freebilly]

And whenever people get fed up with it, they're accused of being "racists".

I can think of a couple things worse than being a "racist". One of those things is being dead....

[Lizard_King]

Racism is only bad when it is an *irrational* sentiment, such as that which is routinely exercised by the elite left against all except approved ethnic groups. When "being a racist" is only a result of pursuing perfectly rational policy against a crime problem rather than its impetus, it is irrelevant.

For example: Cracking down on crime in Costa Rica (where I was born and raised) would mean a disproportionate number of illegal Nicaraguan immigrants would be penalized, simply because a disproportionate number of them are criminals (and they compose 1/4 of the TOTAL population...you think Texas has a problem with illegals...). The result of such policies could be considered racist by someone who desires to raise such bs objections, but that is simply untrue.

Pim Fortuyn being shot was the death of the last hope for the Netherlands.

[crazykatz]

BTTT

[Moonman62]

The guilty ones are the politicians! They disarmed the people, who can only watch while criminals roam free and are armed while the police only do speed-controls! They took away the right to self-defence and gave criminals more rights than honest people!

That's because the politicians have armed guards and they aren't going to get beat to death by the muslims.

[lainde]

knighthawk, I very much appreciate your pinging me to the list...But some days I absolutely dread to see what is happening in Europe. I lived in Munich in the late 1970's...Europe, Germany now horrifies me. At that time, most postwar European children my age were struggling to comprehend and reject the legacy of their father's generaltion. How easily they have forgotten those bloody lessons. Once again the anti-semitism and gutless abdication of personal responsibilty festers. I applaud Orianna Fallaci for reminding them of their loss of shame and morality.

[Travis McGee]

You need to escape from EURABIA while you have your sanity.

Europe is already lost, and we need more strong fighers for freedom in America.

[knighthawk]

Oh, that is why ex-prime-minister Wim Kok (PvdA/socialists) drove an armored BMW 745. And why they all live in towns and neighborhoods where everyone is white, like Paul Rosenmoller (Greenleft).

You are right. They got easy talking, and don't care for what happens to the general public (like true socialists), but only for themselves and the criminals they protect.

[knighthawk]

I will watch out. It's getting close. Here in my town (Helden, located 15 miles from Venlo) the local Moroccans know me from when we were kids, and leave me alone.

[knighthawk]

I have almost given up here. I will leave, I don't want to see the country being transformed into the Islamic Republic of the Netherlands.

The reason I take time to translate all this and post it is to warn America of what will happen to the country when the liberals/socialists are in control. They will destroy everything that people worked hard for, for what people died for.

Count me in, I will be there to help stop them in time!

[knighthawk]

I'll keep you informed. Today they wil brought to the procecution.

[knighthawk]

It's the same over in all of Europe.

In the Netherlands there is a song now (it's a hit) made by a Moroccan rapper and some other about that not all Moroccans are criminals (it's really an annoying song).

They should include the footage of the victim being taken to hospital to remind us half of them are.

[piasa]

Come to Florida... we need reinforcements...

[harpseal]

It is time for someone in the Netherlands to speak common sense to the people of the Netherlands about law and order and the rights of citizens to self defense. Without a right of self-defense one is no better than a chattle. Perhaps every person whop saw this beating is a potential convert to such a view.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[agrace]

Thanks for the flag, knighthawk. I must say that your personal insight is more chilling than the actual article.

[agrace]

The reason I take time to translate all this and post it is to warn America of what will happen to the country when the liberals/socialists are in control. They will destroy everything that people worked hard for, for what people died for.

Another well deserved bump for this comment.

[facedown]

The National Foundation Against Pointless Violence wants a public debate about agression and violence.

This pretty much sums up the reason for your frustration.

Blah, blah, blah.

Religion of peace.

Blah, blah, blah.

We must try to understand them.

Blah, blah, blah.

We are the world. We are the children.

Blah, blah, blah.

They have come here for a better life.

Blah, blah, blah.

We know better than you do.

Blah, blah, blah.

It would drive any thinking person nuts.

[Musket]

Wow. You paint a disturbing picture of the NL, but really, sadly, not much different than the US.

[knighthawk]

The suspects were brought to court in Roermond, and the main supect (named K.L., the Moroccan one) pleaded guilty to have hit Steegmans with his bare fists multiple times. The charge is 'manslaughter', maximnum penalty is 15 years.

K.L. said he didn't knew that such mistreatment could lead to death (yeah right) and that he was emotionaly hit by the persons death (yeah sure). He will cooperate in a psychatric investigation.

The other guy (the Dutch one) has been charged with complicity to manslaughter.

Both have been in contact with police multiple times in the past, and were also in contact with civil helpers.

Now here is the catch. Accoring forensics, the victim had a iron plate in his head, as a result of an accident 5 years ago. According the same forensics, he died as a direct result of the assault, but I bet there will be some way the killer will escape a hard sentence that way.