{"id":200256,"date":"2026-11-05T10:09:04","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T09:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=200256"},"modified":"2026-11-05T12:20:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T11:20:47","slug":"fouad-l-opnieuw-voor-de-rechter-in-hoger-beroep-dit-is-waar-de-zaak-over-gaat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2026\/11\/05\/fouad-l-opnieuw-voor-de-rechter-in-hoger-beroep-dit-is-waar-de-zaak-over-gaat\/","title":{"rendered":"Fouad L. back in court on appeal. This is what the case is about"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The appeal against Fouad L. begins on Thursday 12 November. The former medical student was sentenced to life imprisonment for the attack on Erasmus MC and three murders. Both L. and the Public Prosecution Service disagreed with the ruling. Four questions and answers about the case at the Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The appeal against Fouad L. is due to begin at the Rotterdam courthouse on 12 November.<\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFlickr – Marcel Douwe Dekker<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Why is the case back in court?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early 2025, former medical student Fouad L. stood trial<\/a> for the murders of his neighbour Marlous, Marlous\u2019 daughter Romy and lecturer Jurgen Damen, as well as arson, making threats and possessing a firearm. L. said on the first day of the trial that he wanted revenge. He was furious because his medical degree had been postponed until after he had taken a psychological test, despite having earned all his credits. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both the Public Prosecution Service and L. appealed against the ruling. For different reasons, they want L. to receive compulsory psychiatric treatment. The Public Prosecution Service believes this is the best way to keep L. out of society. L.’s defence considers the events ‘inextricably linked to the disorder in his brain’ and argues that L. needs help. At the preparatory hearing, L. said that he also believes he should receive treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, and still today, the Public Prosecution Service sought a 30-year prison sentence and compulsory treatment. After 30 years in prison, L. would then be transferred to a secure, closed facility. This treatment<\/a> can be extended indefinitely if there is too little progress. The aim is always for the person to return to society. The judge was clear in her ruling: she saw no prospect of L. returning to society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the central question in this case?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The central question on appeal will be: was Fouad L. criminally responsible? L. previously said that he negotiated with an imaginary computer<\/a> about the scale of the attack. As he described it, the computer effectively forced him to take revenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, the Pieter Baan Centre concluded that L. was substantially diminished in his criminal responsibility<\/a>. The judge reached a different conclusion. In her view, someone who could complete a medical degree, plan an attack in detail and make changes to it up to the last moment could be held responsible for what he had done. It is for the Court of Appeal to decide again whether L. was criminally responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fouad L.’s guilt has never been in doubt. He was arrested at the scene, countless witnesses saw him, he was captured on camera and he confessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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