Youth worker Romano Oxford (23) stabbed to death on Kastanjeplein

Romano Oxford, a 23-year-old youth worker from Amsterdam, was stabbed to death on Monday, 4 July 2016, in the street in Amsterdam-Oost. Those around him knew him as a social, caring and calm young man who worked with young people and was described by family and friends as a peacemaker. The stabbing was preceded by a conflict involving the ex-girlfriend of the suspect, Andrew T. She had called Andrew T. to an ultrasound clinic in Amsterdam-Oost. Romano Oxford was also there. According to Andrew T., it seemed to him as if Romano wanted to harm him, while his ex shouted that she was not pregnant. Later that day, the situation escalated in the street. Andrew T. stabbed Romano thirteen times, including in the chest and neck. One of the stab wounds was about thirteen centimetres deep. Romano was resuscitated, but died from his injuries. Andrew T. admitted that he had stabbed Romano, but said he had acted in self-defence and could not clearly remember the stabbing itself. He stated that he only wanted answers and did not want to fight. The court rejected his claim of self-defence. Prosecutors described the stabbing as an act driven by anger and jealousy and demanded a twelve-year prison sentence. The court did not find premeditated murder proven, but did find manslaughter proven. On 14 June 2017, Andrew T., then 22 years old, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing Romano Oxford to death. The court stressed that Romano’s violent death had deeply affected his family and friends. During the hearing, his mother and sisters spoke about the loss, about the fact that many people on social media had learned of his death before his mother did, and about how Romano was remembered as a beloved son, brother and youth worker. On 26 June 2018 the Amsterdam court of appeal rejected the plea of excessive self-defence and sentenced him to ten years for manslaughter; it also awarded shock damages to relatives. The Supreme Court upheld that judgment on 28 May 2019, making the case final.