94-year-old nursing home resident suspected of assaulting fellow residents (Antwerp)
The public prosecutor has advanced a sentence with postponement of probation against 94-year-old EV from Antwerp. The man is being prosecuted for raping and assaulting residents of the ward for dementia patients in the rest home where he is staying.
Sam Reyntjens
The 94-year-old EV, resident of a residential care center in Antwerp, was arrested in November 2021 and led by the judge after persistent problems with sexually transgressive behaviour. The elderly man was released under conditions and is still in a residential care center.
According to the prosecutor’s office, EV, which referred to an ordinary ward, started to move to the ward for residents with dementia. Also because his partner there. In September 2021, an employee of a retirement home had seen EV put his hand in the pants of a fellow resident, when he caught it, he would have quickly pulled away. According to the prosecutor’s office, a clear indication that the man knew well that what he was doing was not okay. A few days earlier, EV was also caught when he was French kissing another resident, those facts were qualified as rape by the prosecutor’s office. The fact that the ladies suffer from dementia is cited as an aggravating factor.
A third victim was grabbed by the breasts by EV, they made it clear to him that he was not welcome in her room, but that did not stop the suspect from trying to touch the woman again. During a search of his room and a search, pornographic photos and nude photos of old ladies were found at EV. The prosecutor’s office does not consider intensive treatment to be useful, given V.’s advanced age. It progressed for two years on probation delay, with maximum guidance and control.
According to his lawyer, EV’s health did not allow him to be present in court. On behalf of the accused advocate Jewel De Vos the acquittal for part of the facts. “The statement from the staff member that the hand in his pants would have seen all sides. At first she says she didn’t see it herself, then she did. That doubt benefits my client.” According to De Vos, the tongue kiss cannot be qualified as rape and it concerns assault. “The victim has not been questioned, how bad was her dementia on it?”, she questioned the aggravating investment. “My client has deteriorated in recent months, I am asking for an autonomous probation sentence.” Judgment on May 23.