Media News - Wednesday, August 22, 2012

“Facebook Murder” shocks the Netherlands

They are just 14, 16 and 17 but they are charged with a gruesome murder. A killing that was well planned, and paid for. The trial began Monday in a case that has caused widespread shock and dismay in the Netherlands and has become known as the “Facebook Murder”. The three teenagers from the Chinese community in the Netherlands are standing trial for the murder of another Chinese teenager 15-year-old Joyce Winsie Hau. She was stabbed to death at her home in January, following a dispute with her best friend on Facebook. Winsie allegedly gossiped about the sexual escapades of her closest friend, 16-year-old Polly, on Facebook and other social media. Polly became so angry that she and her boyfriend decided Winsie must pay for the insults. They hired another Chinese-Dutch boy, 15-year-old Jinhua, to murder her. They offered Jinhua a small sum of money – reportedly less than EUR 100. According to the Dutch Justice Ministry, they spent weeks planning the murder, communicating with the assassin on Facebook and by phone. The “Facebook murder” is unprecedented in the Netherlands because it is being heard in public despite the fact that the suspects are minors. It has sparked a discussion about the role of social media and the online behaviour of teenagers. (Radio Netherlands)

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