The number of murders in the Netherlands has continuously decreased since the 1990s, instead of increasing. It is one of the criminological myths that are debunked in the book ‘Myths about murder’, to be published this week, by crime journalist Gerlof Leistra and Professor of Violence Marieke Liem.
by Joost van der Wegen
Debunked
It’s raining murders, femicide is increasing, perpetrators are becoming ‘younger and younger’, ‘harder’ and ‘more confused’. In the book ‘Myths about murder’ these kinds of daily assumptions are debunked, says publisher Balans. In the book, Leiden professor Marieke Liem and crime journalist Gerlof Leistra sketch a ‘surprisingly different picture of deadly aggression’ in the Netherlands.
Imagined
The two authors did not make the decision overnight. The book is based on an analysis of more than five thousand cases of murder and manslaughter since 1992. The book describes trends, patterns and characteristics of fatal violence in the Netherlands. These are depicted on the basis of reconstructions of controversial and special cases.
The book discusses, among other things, trends in the field of partner murder, parricide, infanticide, murders during arguments, those within the criminal circuit, and robbery and sexual murders.
Research
Marieke Liem is professor of Violence and Interventions at Leiden University. She conducts (international) research into fatal violence. Gerlof Leistra is a crime reporter for EW (Elseviers Weekblad). He published several books about organized crime, murder and manslaughter, including ‘The murder of Derk Wiersum and the undermining of our constitutional state’ (2020).
