Ghent (Brussels Morning) – Stefan De Smet was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering Sandra Bellaccomo with the possibility of parole after 13 years due to the brutal nature of the crime and lack of empathy shown by the defendant.
The jury in the Ghent court has found Stefaan De Smet guilty of murdering Sandra Bellaccomo on June 25, 2022, by shooting her in the head with a rifle from close range. He deliberately chose to use a loaded weapon that was easily accessible in his car. There’s no doubt he acted with intent and awareness of his actions.
What Factors Led to Stefan De Smet’s 30-Year Sentence?
The jury said Stefaan De Smet made empty promises to Sandra Bellaccomo about finding a home and work. They accused him of lying and leading her on without any intention of following through.
The jury believes Stefaan De Smet had the gun ready when he was about to end his relationship with Sandra Bellaccomo. They carefully reviewed chat messages from a key witness Kelly Van Ghyseghem who mentioned finishing Sandra. The jury found the witness credible and rejected the defense’s claims. De Smet was taken away at 1:30 am showing resignation as the verdict was read.
The public prosecutor asked for thirty years in prison instead of life imprisonment considering some mitigating factors. They mentioned that De Smet has no prior criminal record had a protective upbringing and was bullied. The prosecutor believes thirty years is fair allowing De Smet to apply for release after thirteen years at age 46 to rebuild his life. However, they emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the pain caused to Sandra’s family. The prosecutor also highlighted the risk of De Smet repeating such actions, urging the jury to consider this.
De Smet’s Defense
The defense argued for a lower sentence without specifying a number emphasizing De Smet’s clean record until the crime and positive behavior in prison. They highlighted that with a thirty-year sentence De Smet could only request release after half that time, and they urged against such a harsh punishment. The defense asked for a punishment that’s not retaliatory but rather humane, bringing hope into a dark situation.
In his final statement De Smet expressed regret for his actions acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. However, the court found his lack of empathy after the murder concerning emphasizing the brutality and callousness of the crime. Despite considering his clean record and behavior in prison the court sentenced De Smet to thirty years in prison as requested by the prosecution and revoked his civil rights for life.
