The public prosecution department has called for an 11-year jail term followed by detention in a psychiatric clinic for a couple who physically abused their foster daughter.

Johnny van den B en Daisy W appeared in court this week, charged with serious physical abuse and depriving the girl of her liberty, as well as abusing three other foster children.

The case came to light in May 2024 when the then 10-year-old girl was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries and in a coma after being repeatedly abused by the couple at their home in Vlaardingen.

It later emerged that the neighbours, the girl’s school and the girl herself had sounded the alarm about her treatment but that she had been left in the care of the couple.

The girl has since woken from her coma but is unable to sit up or walk unaided and can’t talk. She will need intensive medical care for the rest of her life.

The girl was placed with the family in March 2022 under the supervision of foster family group Stichting Enver and social workers from the William Schrikker Stichting.

But the two organisations failed to work together and share relevant information and did not take action when the girl said she was being abused. Two young Syrian boys had been removed from the family earlier because of abuse.