Verstappen jailed, to be released
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| Jos Verstappen |
Magistrates in Roermond will not be ruling over a case of vandalism involving former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen. The situation has been declared inadmissible after an error was made by the public prosecutor.
Verstappen was summoned by the prosecution on suspicion of destroying two telephones as well as a purse and jewelry. For such minor offences, the public attorney should have offered a settlement – such as a fine – before taking the case to court.
Also taken into account by the judge was the massive media exposure and negative consequences this has had for the personal and business interests of the 40-year-old.
Earlier this year, Verstappen was also suspected of manslaughter after he was accused of deliberately driving a car into his ex girlfriend. That case has already been stood down through a lack of evidence.
01/19/12 Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen will be released from jail on Friday. The Dutchman has been imprisoned since 4 January on the grounds of manslaughter, having allegedly driven a car into his ex girlfriend. However, it has now been decided that too little evidence has been found in order to hold the 39-year-old for longer.
On Thursday, a court in Roermond came to the conclusion that, following a forensic examination, there is not enough proof to suggest that the suspect can be responsible for aggravated assault and manslaughter. Verstappen’s lawyers then asked for their client to be released, with that appeal being granted by the court.
The case remains open and Verstappen is also accused in a previous case for assault. He has made no further comment.
01/10/12
Jos Verstappen, in addition to the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, has now been charged with three more crimes according to Dutch television. So far, prosecutors have failed to name the three additional crimes which the 1994 Formula 1 podium finisher is accused of.
The Dutchman was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of deliberately running a car into his ex-girlfriend in the city of Roermond. The 24-year-old woman in question, who suffered multiple cuts and bruises, is believed to have claimed that the incident occurred following an argument in a hotel room.
In 2009, Verstappen received a suspended prison sentence of three months and was fined 1,650 euros (£1,400) for stalking his ex-wife.
01/06/12 Jos Verstappen has denied an attempted murder charge following the incident in Holland earlier this week, the Dutch ANP agency is reporting. Verstappen has been remanded in custody for 14 days. His lawyer, Marcel Heuvelmans, says that he denies the charges. Verstappen has been in trouble with the Dutch authorities in the past.
01/05/12
(GMM) Jos Verstappen has been arrested in his native Netherlands. The former Benetton, Stewart and Minardi driver turned himself into police after fleeing the scene following an incident involving his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend, according to Flemish newspaper De Standaard.
Dutch police confirmed the arrest of a 39-year-old man after an incident in the southeastern city Roermond.
Unconfirmed media reports say Verstappen deliberately struck his former girlfriend – who was taken by ambulance to hospital with heavy bruises and abrasions – with a car.
Verstappen was previously accused of beating his girlfriend.
"It's definitely not the first time he does this," the unnamed woman told RTL television. "I think now I need to go and hide — I don't know what to expect now when he is released."
In 2008, Verstappen was fined and sentenced to three months suspended jail time over an assault case involving his ex-wife.
And more than ten years ago, he was convicted of assault after fracturing a man's skull at a kart track.
Verstappen contested over 100 grands prix between 1994 and 2003.
01/04/12 After a holiday party Jos Verstappen threw his ex girlfriend out of his car yesterday and according to "De Telegraaf" News reports he tried to knock her down with his car. The women who wants to be anonymous has charged Verstappen. The former F1-driver drove himself to the police-office today, where they immediately locked him up. The police are investigating the case.