Posted on 10/24/2002 4:20:40 PM PDT by 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.
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