In violence cases, every choice counts from the very first hour
From a quarrel that got out of hand to the most serious violence case: it often comes down to who started it, what your role was and whether the injury matches the complaint. Violence cases are punished heavily and taken up quickly — which is why you must speak to us before the interview.
The spectrum of violence
Violent offences include public violence (art. 141), threat, (aggravated) assault and (attempted) manslaughter or murder. The line between assault and attempted manslaughter lies in intent — and that line is contested ground.
In group violence the question is who did what. Not everyone present is a perpetrator; joint perpetration requires a substantial contribution.
Public violence and group violence
In cases of public violence in concert (art. 141) not everyone need have dealt a blow. Nevertheless your own contribution must carry sufficient weight — merely being present or going along is not enough.
We dissect the footage and statements down to the second and show where your role ends.
Joint perpetration, complicity and incitement
The OM likes to opt for joint perpetration, because it attributes another person’s violence to you. That, however, requires close and deliberate cooperation and a substantial contribution.
We resist an overly broad attribution and show what you actually did and did not do.
Attempted manslaughter or assault? Intent decides
The difference between aggravated assault and attempted manslaughter lies in the intent to cause death, to be inferred partly from the nature of the violence and the means used. Often that (conditional) intent is precisely what cannot be firmly established.
If that defence succeeds, the case falls into a considerably lower sentencing category. That is what we go all out for.
Robbery and street robbery
In theft with violence (art. 312) and extortion, the violence, the loot and the role of each party involved weigh heavily. Identification on footage and its reliability are often the point of contention.
We test confrontations, identifications and the question of whether your involvement is genuinely established.
Assault: from simple to aggravated
The law distinguishes simple assault (art. 300), aggravated assault (art. 302) and assault with premeditation. The nature of the injury and the intent determine the classification and thereby the sentence.
The classification of aggravated assault requires serious bodily injury: fractures, permanent injury or prolonged incapacity. We test the medical substantiation and contest the aggravated classification where the injury does not support it.
Self-defence and excessive self-defence
Anyone defending themselves or another against an immediate, unlawful attack can invoke self-defence (noodweer). If that succeeds, discharge from prosecution follows: no punishment.
If the response went slightly too far due to a strong emotional reaction, excessive self-defence (noodweerexces) may offer a way out. We build that defence with camera footage, injury reports and witnesses.
Domestic violence, exclusion order and contact ban
If the case is in the relational sphere, the mayor can impose a temporary domestic exclusion order (huisverbod) and the court can attach a contact or location ban as a condition. That intrudes deeply into your daily life.
We contest unnecessarily heavy conditions and seek an approach that reconciles safety with your interests — work, children, home.
The injured party and the damages claim
The alleged victim often joins as an injured party with a claim for damages for injury and pain and suffering. Not every item claimed is admissible.
We test the claim for substantiation and scope and mount a defence against it, so that you pay no more than is legally justified.
Pre-trial detention and suspension
In more serious violence cases you are often already detained before the substantive hearing. We request suspension or lifting as soon as the grounds allow, with a concrete plan for work, housing and treatment.
At every extension of the detention we mount a defence and monitor the time limits.
Sentence and future
Violent offences are punished firmly, but the outcome depends on your role, the injury and your personal circumstances. A conviction leaves traces: on your criminal record and in every VOG application after it.
From the very first hour we steer towards acquittal, a lesser classification or the lightest appropriate sentence.
When to call us
- You have been arrested after a fight, quarrel or robbery
- A complaint has been filed against you while you were defending yourself
- You are suspected of attempted manslaughter or aggravated assault
- Domestic violence, a domestic exclusion order or a contact ban is involved
- You are in police custody or pre-trial detention
- There is a damages claim from the injured party
Frequently asked questions
I was there but did nothing. Am I complicit?
Presence alone is not a criminal offence. Joint perpetration requires deliberate and close cooperation, complicity a concrete contribution. We resist an overly broad attribution.
When is it attempted manslaughter rather than assault?
That depends on the intent to cause death, inferred partly from the nature of the violence and the means used. Often that intent is precisely what cannot be firmly established; that is what we focus on.
Can an identification from camera footage be wrong?
Certainly. Image quality, lighting and suggestive confrontations make identifications vulnerable. We have the manner of identification tested and contest unreliable image evidence.
I am in pre-trial detention. Can it be lifted?
We apply for suspension or lifting as soon as the grounds allow, with a concrete plan for work, housing and treatment arrangements. At every extension we mount a defence.
What do I risk in a robbery or street robbery?
Theft with violence carries a high sentence and often leads to pre-trial detention. Your precise role and the reliability of the identification are decisive — that is where we direct the defence.
Does self-defence also count in violence cases?
Yes. If the violence came from the other person, an appeal to self-defence or excessive self-defence can succeed. We carefully reconstruct the incident with footage, injury and witnesses.
The complaint does not match what happened. What now?
A complaint is one statement, not an established fact. We request the underlying documents, have the complainant heard by the examining magistrate and expose contradictions between the complaint, the injury and the footage.
I have received a domestic exclusion order. Can I challenge it?
Yes. There is an urgent procedure before the administrative court against a temporary domestic exclusion order. We contest unnecessarily heavy conditions and safeguard your interests.
Must I pay the injured party’s damages claim?
Only what is legally and factually justified. We mount a defence against the amount and the substantiation of the claim.
Does a conviction affect my work and VOG?
A violence conviction is recorded in your documentation and can stand in the way of a VOG. We keep that interest in view from the outset.
How quickly do you need to be involved?
Immediately. We provide assistance even before the first substantive interview. Contact us straight away — we respond the same day.