The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has recommended a prison sentence of 15 years and nine months and mandatory psychiatric treatment at a TBS facility for 55-year-old Dennis van E. for the murder of his unborn child and the fatal assault of the child’s mother, 32-year-old Brazilian Patricia Oliveira dos Santos.

The case is known as the “abortion murder.” Prosecutors claim that Van E. forced an improvised abortion, with a fatal outcome for the mother and the unborn child. “Why? Because he did not want to father the boy. Everything else had to make way for that,” the prosecution said.

Van E. explicitly did not want a boy. In mid-October 2019, when Patricia was around 32 to 37 weeks pregnant, prosecutors allege that Van E. forced her to drink alcohol, take MDMA, cocaine, and a number of abortion pills.

This led to a tear in the uterus and the death of the child and the woman. They both died in Van E.’s home in Diemen, where the pregnant Patricia had been staying for some time.

The court sentenced Van E. to 16 years in prison in 2024 and mandatory psychiatric treatment, in accordance with the OM’s recommendation. During the appeal, the prosecution removed three months from the recommendation because the handling of the case had been delayed.

Van E. reported to the police at the time, who quickly designated him a suspect. He has always denied the accusations. He claims to have been asleep when the fatal incident took place.

“Completely implausible,” the OM said regarding Van E.’s claim. Patricia must have suffered “immense pain,” and prosecutors find it “unthinkable” that she would not have made a sound during this and Van E. would not have heard it. Patricia also had other injuries, including some to her face. Two teeth were found in her mouth and her throat. It is currently unclear to the OM how this has occurred.

The suspect and victim had gotten to know each other in the Brazilian coastal town of Fortaleza, where Van E. would often go on vacations, and Patricia worked as a sex worker. The woman lived in significant poverty.

Prosecutors stated that she entered a completely unequal relationship with Van E., in which he “manipulated and sometimes humiliated” her. This image has come forth from chat conversations that the two had. Van E. also discusses killing the fetus in the messages.

Patricia died a “horrifying death,” the OM said. “The suspect let her bleed to death.”

Van E.’s attorney will give her arguments on Monday. The court will announce its verdict on October 28.