ROTTERDAM – The District Court in Dordrecht has sentenced Albertico R., a 55-year-old man from Curaçao, to twelve years in prison for the fatal stabbing of his 71-year-old neighbor, Cor Kleijn, during a violent confrontation in Rotterdam in September 2023. 

The incident, which occurred behind Kleijn’s home on Molièreweg, was the tragic culmination of a long-standing neighbor dispute marked by noise complaints and threatening behavior. The court harshly criticized R. for never taking responsibility and for providing multiple false statements during the investigation and trial. 

Years of Tension Ends in Violence 

According to court records, the altercation followed years of escalating conflict between the two neighbors. Kleijn had reportedly documented ongoing disturbances caused by R., who lived in a supervised housing situation due to a mild intellectual disability, alcohol abuse, and an antisocial personality disorder. 

On September 27, 2023, the dispute erupted violently. A group of R.’s family members, including R. himself, stormed into Kleijn’s backyard. The court determined that the group knocked over a garden gate and began assaulting Kleijn. As the elderly man fled to a nearby grassy area, he was beaten and kicked by several individuals. R. then stabbed him with a knife—although the weapon was never recovered, forensic evidence revealed the victim’s blood on R.'s clothing and shoes. 

Court Rejects Defense 

Despite R.’s continued denial of involvement, the court ruled the evidence left no doubt of his guilt. His repeated lies and refusal to accept responsibility were cited as aggravating factors. The judge rejected claims that R.’s mental condition or substance use on the night of the incident should lessen his punishment. 

Lighter Sentences for Relatives 

Three relatives of R. who participated in the attack received lesser sentences. One was sentenced to fifteen months in prison, with three months suspended. The other two received nine-month terms, also partially suspended. The court found them guilty of public violence, but not of contributing directly to Kleijn’s death. 

The verdict brings a measure of closure to a disturbing case that began as a neighborhood dispute and ended in deadly violence. The ruling highlights the Dutch judiciary's firm stance on taking accountability and condemning group violence that leads to fatal outcomes.