Put the past to rest

A fight in a local pub escalates. Martijn stabs Gerard in the stomach with a large knife. Martijn is sentenced to four years, and spends two years and eight months in prison. Years later, Martijn en Gerard meet up to talk. Gerard: “I had to get rid of that feeling somehow. Of constantly being angry.”

Under the guidance of Perspectief mediator Petra, the men talked to each other a few years after Martijn stabbed Gerard following a pub fight that escalated. There are big consequences. Gerard worries about his continued anger, Martijn doesn’t want to have to keep looking over his shoulder after he gets out of prison. Both men want peace, no threats, no revenge. But the people around them keep getting involved in it. That’s why they decide to post a picture on Facebook together, as a signal to their village to put the past to rest.  

Positive reactions

Martijn: “We took a picture together and I put it on Facebook so everyone could see that we had resolved the issue. After the meeting I was very relieved. I only got positive reactions. Nobody had expected this in our situation. So I think it’s also positive for other people.”