The man who darkened on two terraces in Brussels last Friday appeared this morning before the Brussels council chamber. The latter will decide whether or not to keep him in detention. The Brussels man is charged with attempted homicide. His lawyer, Isabelle Slaets, agreed to answer our questions following the hearing. “Monsieur was very emotional, and we can say that he is not doing very well“, explains his lawyer from the outset.
The facts held once morest him are considered serious, he risks sentences of several decades in prison. “The facts retained are attempted murder, with use of a weapon by assimilation, the weapon being the van“, clarifies master Slaets. “There is no qualification of a terrorist act, nor of assassination, so there is no track according to which there is premeditation.”
At this stage, his client shows good will and has become aware of the charges once morest him. “Monsieur has made a statement and is cooperating with justice, but it is too early to mention any motive. For the moment, the facts are not very clear, but the investigation should make it possible to better understand what happened. Furthermore, there is no indication that the mobility plan actually played a role.“
The defendant will also have to undergo psychological examinations to better understand his state of mental health. “My client is aware that it might have been worse, and is relieved to know that the victims were only slightly injured, and that there were no serious injuries.”
The defendant was present during the hearing. He will be fixed on his fate in the followingnoon. “The prosecution requested to extend the preventive detention for one month. Pending the decision of the council chamber, he remains in preventive detention.“, concludes his lawyer.
