Mum of Dutch girl who made 'suicide pact' with Brit speaks out

The mother of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who killed herself after appealing online for someone 'to do it with me' says internet trolls who 'romanticised death' played a part in her suicide.

Gina Van Houten, 14, was found dead in her family home in March 2018 after a court heard she made a 'suicide pact' online with British factory worker Christoper Ballard.

Today, Ballard, 43, who still lives with his parents, was found not guilty at Bradford Crown Court of encouraging or assisting the girl's suicide after telling jurors he was only indulging in 'fantasy role play' and not serious.

After speaking to each other for two weeks, the teenager from Amsterdam, who loved ones say 'no one had ever seen her depressed', tragically took her own life.

To the outside world, the 'cheerful and funny' Gina was 'surrounded by love and had a lot of friends'. But the high school student was suffering in silence turning to internet forums where vulnerable people are often preyed upon.

Unbeknownst to her mother, Christa Van Houten, Gina had been communicating with Ballard after she posted on ForumJar - an online chat room which has since been shut down due to 'the growing number of inappropriate messages from members'.

In the month before her death, Gina posted for the first time on the forum under the title 'Suicide pact Netherlands'.

The tragic post read: 'Hi, my name is Gina. I am a 14-year-old female and I am planning to commit suicide. I would rather do it with someone else than alone. I am asking if you are willing to do it with me.'

Less than 48 hours after Gina posted her plea, Mr Ballard responded at 2.49am on February 17, telling her he was 'very much after the same'.

The pair discussed different 'methods' and for Mr Ballard, who said he worked in a hospital and had access to 'strong' sleeping drugs, to come to Amsterdam.

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British factory worker, 43, is found not guilty of encouraging Dutch girl, 14, to take her own life

And while to Mr Ballard their online conversations were deemed to be nothing more than 'pretend role play' and 'joking around', 'vulnerable' Gina ended up taking her own life.

On the two-year anniversary of her death, Gina's mother wrote on an online memorial page made to remember her daughter, hitting out at the cruel forums that influenced her daughter.

She said: 'The people who knew her well were all shocked and no one had seen this coming. No one had ever seen her depressed. Everyone saw her as a sweet, introverted but cheerful, funny and tough girl who had a good life in a loving environment.'

The grieving mother added that Gina was just an 'average teenager' 'who preferred to spend all day on the 'unprotected' internet'.

And it was while spending hours scrolling on the various sites, she found 'all kinds of nasty videos that romanticize death, bad vloggers and contacts' her mother explained.

'Gina, through a combination of her vulnerabilities, character traits and influence by her internet role models, acted unplanned but fatal in heightened emotion and impulsiveness,' her mother added.

'I miss her so terribly and it feels like a big void inside me. It is as if time has stood still since she is no longer there.'

In memory of Gina, a cherry blossom tree and memorial bench have been placed on the water outside her secondary school Geert Groote College in the Dutch capital.

The plaque on the bench reads: 'Your sweet smile concealed your inner struggle. We will never forget you.'

Her mother said Gina lived a happy life and 'didn't experience bad things'.

Gina had acknowledged this in the weeks before her death explaining in a text message: 'Nothing happened to make me feel this way … I have no idea where it comes from.'

A farewell note left on her mobile phone also read: 'I am not here anymore when you read this. I want everyone to know that it was my own will. I know there is always pain for those left behind. I just do not want to live any more.

'Sorry once again. Thanks for everything. Love Gina.'

Last week at Bradford Crown Court when Ballard, who enjoys dressing up as Star Wars characters for Comic Conventions, was asked how the death of Gina made him feel, he told lawyers: 'It's such a tragic loss. It's sad, isn't it.'

Mr Ballard was first arrested in September 2020 after a joint investigation by police in Amsterdam and the West Yorkshire force.

He was arrested a second time 18 months later when he admitted lying to police officers about details in relation to his online and WhatsApp communications with Gina.

In cross examination, prosecutor James Bourne-Arton asked if it was 'easy to tell the difference between fantasy and real life, which Ballard replied: 'It depends.'

When asked 'did you realise what you did was wrong' the factory worker replied: 'I was just messaging her. I never intended to encourage her or anybody to commit suicide.'

Mr Ballard has now been cleared of all charges.