24, 25 years for drug-related killing

30 March 2007

BRUSSELS – Ronnie Duvivier (21) and Roxane Rizzi (20) were sentenced by the court in Liege on Thursday to 24 and 25 years in prison, respectively. The jury found them guilty of robbery with manslaughter as an aggravating factor.

The two killed 85-year-old Sophia Szkudlarek in Grâce-Hollogne on 17 December 2004 while under the influence of drugs and fled with her jewellery and a car.

Ronnie Duvivier and Roxane Rizzi were 19 and 18 years old at the time. Roxane had once been a lodger in the victim’s home and done garden work for her. The old woman had sold her house shortly before the two teenagers decided to kill her. The two thought she would have a large amount of money on her as a result.

They tied the woman to a chair and searched the house for the money, but did not find it. Ronnie stabbed the woman eight times. Roxane had handed him the knife. The two were on speed at the time.

Neighbours of Szkudlarek sounded the alarm when they hadn’t heard from her in a while. She was found dead in her home, tied to the chair and gagged, with a knife in her chest.

The public prosecutor had asked that both be sentenced to 30 years in prison, saying that Roxane had been the instigator.

Subject: Belgian news