Life-long sentence for Erasmus shooter, no psychiatric treatment

For triple murder and arson, 34-year-old Fouad L., former Erasmus University Rotterdam medical student, will receive a life sentence. On Friday, the judge handed down the verdict in the much-discussed case. In September 2023, Fouad L first murdered his neighbor and her 14-year-old daughter , and then shot dead a lecturer at Erasmus MC, who also taught at TU Delft.

The prosecutor had demanded 30 years in prison with psychiatric treatment. That would have meant he would have been treated for his psychological problems, which experts say make him diminished culpability. L. allegedly has a disorder on the autistic spectrum and was not allowed to graduate because of doubts about his mental state.

Nevertheless, the court opted for life in prison. L. wanted revenge and acted in a planned and deliberate manner, the court said. For example, he pre-tested his weapons and made Molotov cocktails to set fires. In principle, L. can be pardoned, but that rarely happens in practice. He can be treated for his psychological problems, but not as part of his sentence or resocialization.

Carrying with them their whole lives

University magazine Erasmus Magazine was present (in Dutch) at the verdict. “The suffering you have caused is great,” the judge told the defendant, according to EM. “Many will carry that with them for a long time or all their lives.”

The judge also awarded 1.2 million euros in damages to relatives and other injured parties. For example, the partner of the murdered teacher receives 744 thousand euros because of ‘foregone living expenses’ among other things. Fouad L. can appeal the verdict.

HOP, Bas Belleman/Delta, Kim Bakker