Former dentistry student Marwa M., who is in custody for stalking and threatening UG and UMCG staff, has refused to cooperate with her psychological evaluation at the Pieter Baan Centre (PBC).
Because of this, the PBC was unable to draw any conclusions, said the public prosecutor on Tuesday during the sixth pro forma hearing in this case at the Groningen court. The PBC clinically evaluates and observes people suspected of committing a crime. M. has now been in pre-trial detention for over a year and a half.
One of the reasons the substantive trial has been delayed for so long is that during the first six months, she also refused to cooperate with a psychological assessment by the Probation Service. In earlier hearings, she stated that she saw herself as a victim rather than a suspect.
Significant factor
The court had asked M. in three previous hearings to speak with the Probation Service. The court considers information about her mental health to be highly significant for the substantive handling of the case. When she continued to refuse, the court ordered a psychological evaluation at the PBC.
M. studied dentistry at the UG but was expelled due to her behaviour. She disagreed with this decision, which led to a conflict between her, the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), and the UG. She harassed staff members, including the editorial staff of UKrant, where she behaved aggressively, intimidated, and issued threats.
Accusations
She repeatedly returned to assert her claims, put up posters accusing staff members by name and photo of fraud, and published similar accusations on social media.
Despite being banned from entering UG and UMCG buildings and from contacting specific individuals, she continued to do so. After complaints from the university and hospital, she was arrested in November 2023.
Relevance
According to the public prosecutor, the PBC evaluation remains relevant to the case, although it is still unclear what role an inconclusive assessment might play. The first substantive hearing in the case is scheduled for 16 October.
A final pro forma hearing will take place on 24 September, to potentially extend the pre-trial detention by three more months. On Tuesday, the court decided that the former student will remain in custody.