Man admits killing Dutch ex-minister over euthanasia law

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Man admits killing Dutch ex-minister over euthanasia law

Mike Corder, Associated Press

Updated 8:42 pm, Thursday, February 4, 2016

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A man accused of killing a former Dutch health minister admitted the slaying at a court hearing Thursday, claiming it was an "order from God" because she was responsible for the Netherlands' euthanasia law.

The suspect, identified only as Bart van U. because of privacy rules, made the confession during a closed hearing, Rotterdam Court spokesman Pelle Biesmeijer said in a telephone interview.

Former health minister Els Borst, who drafted the nation's landmark 2002 law legalizing euthanasia, was stabbed to death at her home two years ago.

News of the motive behind her death sent shockwaves through Borst's former political party, D66.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Man-admits-killing-Dutch-ex-minister-over-6806516.php

[Sam_Fields]

1. Pro-Life means: Forced births and forced suffering of humans in pain and near death.

[jmowreader]

2. It also means killing anyone you disagree with

On edit: I realize the Netherlands doesn't have capital punishment, but couldn't they make an exception for this guy? They wouldn't actually have to execute him, just put him in a cell with a guillotine blade hanging on the wall across from it and walk by every couple of days shaking their heads and going, "yup, it'll be any day now..."

[awoke_in_2003]

15. +1000

"I'm against euthanasia, so I'm going to kill you". Ah, the beauty of religion

[silverweb]

3. No, you're thinking of Anti-Choice.

[houston16revival]

4. Nice to know

his privacy is protected? Wtf?

Bet they thought only the US bred religious loonies.

[Quantess]

5. That happens all the time in some countries

They protect the identities of the convicted. Weird, huh?

[renegade000]

10. On the other hand...

It certainly denies these sick people the notoriety they might want.

[houston16revival]

11. Interesting take

So suppressing publicity is a deterrent? I guess it's possible in some cases.

Do the perps seek notoriety from the public, headlines? Or is it personal,
directed at some past peeve in their lives?

I don't think there's a universal way of looking at it. Case by case.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. From what I hear

from friends in New Zealand, their religious whack jobs are as bad as ours.

[Vinca]

6. I thought we had the market cornered on religious fanatics.

[Hoppy]

7. Well, she learned her lesson -- "Don't fuck with Jesus."

Yes, Agatha, don't get yourself excited, it's sarcasm.

[whatthehey]

8. Killing for the sanctity of life; a religious habit

[valerief]

9. Fuckin' religion and crazy people go together like bacon and eggs. nt

[hifiguy]

12. Ain't that the truth.

Gotta keep the Skywizard happy.

[MisterP]

13. presumably he'll try and CITE the law

[smirkymonkey]

14. WTF?

[geek tragedy]

17. why do they have a murderer's shield law there?

If someone is an admitted murderer, shouldn't people be able to know about that person?

[trillion]

18. It might be a pre trial thing.

I have no idea. I prefer to have them named.