Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Aalst, two brothers assaulted their friend, leading to his death from severe injuries. Both had used cocaine, the prosecutor sought 8 and 10-year sentences for manslaughter.
Three years ago, a violent incident occurred on Victor Bocquéstraat in Aalst. A resident heard a disturbance and called emergency services. When the police arrived, they found two brothers at the scene and their friend, who was seriously injured. The victim was lying on the floor, unresponsive, having suffered severe head and brain trauma.
What caused the fatal injuries in the Aalst incident involving the brothers?
Emergency responders quickly took the injured man to Onze-Lieve-Vrowziekenhuis (OLV Hospital) in Aalst, where he was put in intensive care. Despite the medical team’s efforts, his condition remained critical, and he died from his injuries a month later. It has been said that this case led to a thorough investigation into what happened before the assault, raising questions about the roles of those present and how the victim sustained his fatal injuries.
Blood tests showed that both brothers and the victim had recently used cocaine. During interrogations, the brothers admitted to striking the victim but gave conflicting accounts of the events, which the jury found inconsistent with the coroner’s findings. The jury concluded that the violence was more intense and prolonged than the brothers claimed and rejected the defense’s argument of provocation. While the brothers expressed remorse, they disputed the charge of manslaughter. The prosecutor has requested sentences of 8 years and 10 years for the two brothers.
