January 27, 2025
Suicide Incitement with Middel X
A court in The Hague in the Netherlands on Friday sentenced an octogenarian man to the maximum community service of 240 hours for urging a woman to end her life. She did so using suicide Middel X (sodium azide).
In addition to the maximum community service, Hans D. was also given a 12-month suspended prison sentence.

Credit: Court Illustrator
In doing so, the judge deviated from the public prosecutor’s (OM) demand.
The prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of 14 months, seven of which were suspended.
In November 2021, the 32-year-old woman from Bodegraven took the Middel X, after which she died.
The woman’s conditions included bipolar disorder, delusions and non-congenital brain damage. She had developmental mental problems. She had previously tried to end her life.
The woman got in touch with the man through the Last Will Cooperative (CLW).
They sent each other daily messages via WhatsApp.
About three weeks after their first message, the woman took the fatal dose.
The court called it ‘wicked and extremely careless’ that the accused had contact with the woman only via WhatsApp.
According to the court, Hans D. hardly knew her and knew nothing of her past.
‘He was not a doctor and could not assess whether there was hopeless suffering,’ it said.
According to the judges, the woman increasingly doubted whether she really wanted to die.
‘At those moments, the accused encouraged her to go on and persevere,’ the court said.
The court stated that the man helped her keep social workers and family at bay.
‘Partly because of his actions, she carried out her intention.’
The defendant believes he complied with the law.
‘He limited himself to moral support and giving information.
He did not provide a pill or tell her where she could buy it,’ his lawyer said after the verdict.
The man is no longer active with the CLW.
That organisation fights for determining your own fate at the deathbed.
It is not the first trial around Middel X.
In July 2024, four over-70s were acquitted of supplying the drug.
Two others were given suspended jail terms.
They had helped people at CLW discussion groups to get the drug.
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