Robert Mikelsons, the 28-year-old man on trial for sexually abusing 67 very young children at daycare centres in Amsterdam, told the court on Wednesday he is very sorry for the pain he has caused.

‘After 10 years, I could no longer deny that I was cursed,’ local television station AT5 quoted Mikelsons as saying. ‘I am sorry I was too cowardly to prevent this happening. It was never my intention to hurt people.
‘No-one deserved this, not the children and not the parents. I am sorry for the pain I have caused. I am sorry I was too cowardly to end my life, I am sorry I am human,’ Mikelsons said.
Mikelsons also told the court about his difficult childhood, the development of his sexual preferences and the fact he was institutionalised in Latvia for having suicidal tendancies.
Wednesday was the first day the court was open to the public. Previous sessions have all been closed to all apart from the families of the child victims.