Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide and graphic images which some readers may find distressing.
A man has chosen to die by euthanasia after an armed robber broke into his home and inflicted life-changing injuries upon him.
At around 8.20am one morning in November, 77-year-old Jan Beulenkamp was lying in bed at his home in Liendenhof, Amsterdam-Zuidoost, when the thug burst into his home and repeatedly beat him.
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It left the Dutch pensioner with permanent brain damage, and just two months later the loving grandfather chose to be euthanised.
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While the perpetrator is still at large, a reward of €10,000 has been offered by the Netherlands' Public Prosecution Service for any information leading to his arrest.
The assailant has been described as being around 5 foot 9 inches tall, aged between 20 and 30, has a dark skin complexion and eye colour, speaks Dutch and had a brown backpack with him.
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On the fateful morning in November, he rang doorbell to the Beulenkamp's home and was met by his wife. The criminal then pulled out a gun and demanded money.
When they explained there was no money in their apartment, the man demanded jewelry.
While looking for their most prized-possessions, he walked into the elderly couple's bedroom where he discovered Beulenkamp still in bed, at which point the cowardly criminal hit the elderly man on the head multiple times with the firearm.
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The attack left Beulenkamp partially paralyzed and with limited speech, as well as suffering from the mental trauma that came with it.
It shortly became apparent the pensioner would not be able to recover properly, despite being surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren.
Just two months later he was euthanized.
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Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands if a patient's suffering is considered unbearable and there's no possibility they'll improve.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that the killer lived nearby, and knew the couple who lived there were both in their 70s.
Their house is located on a dead-end street with no parking space for any possible getaway car, which meant the assailant is likely to have made off on either foot or bicycle.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741
Topics: Crime, Netherlands
Joe Yates