Jimmy Schepers (21) stabbed at Solid Grooves festival

On Sunday May 28 2023 21-year-old Jimmy Schepers from Diemen lost his life during the Solid Grooves dance festival at a business park in Amsterdam-Westpoort. The incident began when a group of young men without tickets entered the grounds through a hole in the fence with the intent to rob festival-goers of expensive sunglasses and jewelry. Jimmy was at the festival with his sister and friends when the group attempted to steal a pair of sunglasses from one of his friends. When Jimmy intervened to de-escalate the situation and protect his companions the confrontation escalated into a violent scuffle during which 20-year-old Derzik H. pulled a knife. Jimmy was stabbed twice in the chest and two other festival-goers were also wounded by stabbings during the incident. Despite the rapid deployment of emergency services and resuscitation attempts on the festival grounds Jimmy later died in the hospital from his injuries. The perpetrator fled after the incident but was later apprehended by police thanks to CCTV footage and witness statements. During the trial in November 2024 the Public Prosecution Service demanded a twenty-year prison sentence for the main suspect for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. On January 14 2025 the Amsterdam District Court sentenced Derzik H. to fourteen years in prison with the judge taking into account the suspect's relatively young age and lack of a prior criminal record. Two co-defendants received prison sentences of eighteen and six months for their involvement in the robberies and public violence. The Public Prosecution Service has appealed this verdict because they believe the sentence is disproportionate to the severity of the violence and the immense suffering caused to Jimmy's family.