Neurochirurge should not go to the cell: five years in prison with a reprieve for murder of her daughter (14)

Mehrnaz Didgar is sentenced to a conditional prison sentence of five years for the murder of her daughter Eline Pans (14). The jury could take into account mitigating circumstances. The neurochirurge should not return to the prison, but must be included in the psychiatry. In a reaction, they noted that they are “the second chance definitely will grab”. To say that committed them the truth because they are both depressed and because Eline several times indicated that she wanted to die. At the age of 7 the girl was affected by thyroid cancer. This was especially mentally traces, and manifested itself clearly in her teens. The deliberation over the penalty took 2.5 hours to complete. Assisenvoorzitter Peter Hartoch called it “the toughest and most difficult process of his career”.

The neurochirurge of UZ Leuven brought the teenage girl by choking the life out of her apartment in Leuven on 26 July 2017. The Public Prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of 26 years. Counsel Jef Vermassen asked the jury to take the punishment for his client to limit to a maximum of five years conditionally, and thus received his sentence.

Read also Chirurge daughter (14) killed gets the last word: "If I have the clock could turn back, this would not have happened”

The twelve jurors and three professional judges kept in mind the seriousness of the facts, but also with a lot of mitigating circumstances. The neurochirurge has her daughter of life bereaved and the survivors of Eline Pans, unnecessary suffering is inflicted. But the judgment also mentions a lot of mitigating circumstances. “First of all to have a flawless strafverleden and a large schuldinzicht”, said Hartoch. “But also the dramatic conditions since the earliest youth.”

Probatievoorwaarden
The delay runs over a period of five years. The judges and the judges put four probatievoorwaarden. Didgar may, within five years, no new facts to commit and they should have a fixed place of residence. Most important condition is that Didgar are medical and psychological late guide. In a first phase it should be done through a residential recording. The duration is determined by the doctors and therapists in the psychiatric centre. Didgar must follow the treatment for as long as they deem necessary.

Great emotions
The emotions in a full assisenzaal ran high. Not in the least at the neurochirurge itself. “I never thought that I still had a second chance would be given. I go that will definitely intervene”, she said. Hartoch wanted to know if they re getting started would like to go as a doctor.

This is it now still a bit early. “You have to re looking for work. Or, possibly, a new programme for you to follow if you don't a new work.” In theory had Didgar immediately after the ruling is released. But given the late hour, the women's prison in Hasselt no longer have to complete the formalities around the release handle.

When Didgar found guilty was to murder seemed like a mild punishment, however, excluded. The jury based its decision on the report of the wetsarts. “There are compelling evidences that the accused her daughter's life to have been taken with a high dose of diazepam. She has her first three and then four tablets take. Afterwards there was smoring place with a plastic bag on the mouth and the nose for fifteen minutes. The accused had only the intent to keep themselves and Eline of life to rob.”

For the question of guilt about the forethought looked at the jurors to the preparatory acts. “By the theft, and afterwards the purchase of the medication is the plan devised was”. The jurors recognized the depression of mother and daughter. “But those were not of a nature to not be able to resist the urge”, she said. the

“Society must be against her to be protected”
The Public Prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of 26 years. “Life imprisonment is the starting point,” said attorney Kristophe Everaerts. “The jury may consider to lower to go, but that is not an obligation. And then there are extenuating circumstances”. And who saw the attorney not or hardly. “Not an unhappy youth. Not a word of regret this morning in the last word. She was a good mother, but she has not done out of mother love. I accepted her blank criminal record, and the contribution that they, as a physician has provided to the society.”

About the personality of Didgar was the attorney nor laudatory. “She has no friends. She was only a good mother, but not mother love. Her weak identity compensated them with clean appearance. That there is now no more. She says in the solitude of the prison, to find peace. Within these walls, there is no danger more. Apart from that, they are dangerous and unpredictable. The society needs her to be protected.”