Man who strangled partner jailed after new forensic method used

A man has been convicted of attempting to kill his partner in the first case to use new techniques to detect signs of strangulation in domestic violence.

The 33-year-old man from Rozenburg grabbed the woman by the neck as an argument turned violent last November. Police were alerted by neighbours and pulled the man away from his victim, who later said she was “turning blue”.

She was examined by a medical specialist using a new procedure developed in Rotterdam to gather forensic evidence faster in suspected cases of strangulation.

The doctor said the attack could have been fatal if it was prolonged, a detail that allowed prosecutors to argue that the attack should be classed as attempted manslaughter.

The procedure was introduced last December to try to detect strangulation, which is seen as an early warning sign of femicide, in domestic abuse investigations before the victim’s injuries heal and the evidence disappears.

200 referrals

The medical agency FARR, based in Rotterdam, anticipated receiving 200 inquiries a year, but was called on 150 times in the first three months. In 92% of cases doctors concluded the injuries could have been caused by strangulation. Nine in 10 victims were female and 78% of inquiries were related to domestic violence.

“It’s a huge number,” the agency’s managing director Geranda Zeelenberg told NOS. “Previously we hardly ever saw these people. They were probably always there, but the research we’ve begun has increased awareness of these cases.”

The man from Rozenburg was sentenced to 360 days in prison for attempted manslaughter, including 169 days suspended, and a community service order of 150 hours, in line with the prosecution’s demands.

His lawyer told the court he had no recollection of the events on the night of the attack because he had been taking alcohol and amphetamines, but argued that he had attacked her to try to force her to have sex rather than attempting to kill her.