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The secluded farm in Ruinerwold
Photo: Wilbert Bijzitter / EPA-EFE / REX
In the case of the apparently isolated family on a farm in the northeast of the Netherlands, the court has provisionally released one of the suspects.
The Austrian Josef B. could wait for the main proceedings to start in freedom, the court in the city of Assen decided.
A good year ago, B. and Gerrit Jan van D. from the Netherlands were arrested.
Among other things, you are charged with depriving the six children of D's freedom.
According to the prosecution, they are said to have held the children in "psychological imprisonment".
Suspect appears to have been on hunger strike
The father lived with his six children on a remote farm near the village of Ruinerwold in the province of Drenthe for nine years without the neighbors knowing.
He had founded a kind of pee and is said to have raped a daughter and a son.
The background to the case is still largely unclear.
Josef B. had rented the farm and fed the family.
According to the local broadcaster "RTV Drenthe", he is said to have been a kind of "all-round craftsman" on the farm.
He denies all allegations.
B. apparently went on a hunger strike from time to time after his pre-trial detention was extended in September.
However, the Austrian has been eating again for about three weeks, the broadcaster reported, citing his lawyer.
There is no risk of flight or repetition.
The children's father may no longer be able to take legal action
The case came to light in October 2019 when a son asked for help in a village pub.
The children are of legal age today.
The mother had died years ago.
The father can no longer speak after a stroke.
His lawyer had applied for the case to be closed because the man was incapable of litigation.
According to "RTV Drenthe" several judges want to get an idea of the condition of the now 68 year old.
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fek / dpa