In November 2021, Vloet drove at 193 kilometers per hour and under the influence of alcohol on the A4 near Hoofddorp behind the car of Gio’s family. The 4-year-old boy died of his injuries. The sentence imposed on Vloet, 2.5 years in prison and a driving ban of four years, is one year less than the requirement of the Public Prosecution Service.
Painful
“It is painful,” said the lawyer for the relatives after hearing the verdict. “The judge speaks of sincere remorse for Vloet. The relatives have not experienced that sincerity. Vloet did not even look them in the eye at the hearing.”
The lawyer of the relatives calls the fact that 27-year-old Vloet gets a year less than the Public Prosecution Service had demanded as a ‘very substantial’ sentence reduction. “The court speaks of recklessness, the most serious form of guilt. Then she should have embraced the sentence of the Public Prosecution Service.”
Media attention
The verdict included the fact that Vloet’s football career has been hit by all the media attention. His last club in the Eredivisie, Heracles, decided to terminate the contract with Vloet.
Vloet’s lawyer was also asked for a response. According to him, the football player, who had been present at the substantive hearing but not at the verdict, listened to the verdict ‘calmly’ by telephone. “He also has to get it in. We’re going to talk about it quietly. I can’t say yet whether we’re going to appeal.”
‘Negative daylight’
“Vloet has been portrayed in quite a negative light,” his lawyer continued. “The tenor was that it would not affect him much, but it can be concluded from the lower sentence that the court appreciated that he showed sincere remorse during the hearing.”
About the fact that he was not present at the verdict, the lawyer says: “That is not unusual in itself. What matters is that he plays football in Russia and his club must give permission.”
Blown away by fans
The footballer played with his current club FK Ural against Zenit in the Russian league last Saturday. “He would prefer to play in the Netherlands, but I don’t think he should show himself on a field in the Netherlands now,” says the lawyer. “The fans have also whistled him away. No club wants that fuss. There was no other choice for him than to move abroad.”
“At some point, Vloet will receive an invitation to serve his sentence. Whatever punishment that is, he will comply.”
