BRUSSELS — The second youngster suspected in the murder at the Brussels Central Station last spring will face the judges today, De Standaard reports.

On 12 April 2006, two teenage boys attacked two youths at Brussels Central Station. One of the young men, Joe Van Holsbeeck, died immediately on the spot of multiple wounds.

The juvenile court in Brussels beings the trial hearing on the case of Mariusz O. today. The suspect, who was of Polish origin, was 16 at the time of the crime. It will be decided today whether his case will be further processed at the juvenile court. 

The hearing is not an open one, as it is planned to reveal the surveillance camera footage showing the last seconds of the victim’s life. The victim’s father Guy Van Holsbeeck felt that it would be too difficult for him to see the footage and chose not to arrive in court.

Whether the murder was cold-blooded or emotional will be judged on the basis of the surveillance tapes. From what has been disclosed so far it is clear that two Polish assassins Adam G. and Mariusz O. were actively searching for potential victims to attack until they saw Joe Van Holsbeeck and his friend Gilles, who sat in a corner listening to an mp3 player. The tapes also clearly show that Mariusz was carrying a knife.

It was 16:30 in the afternoon. The fight lasted 24 seconds.

The attackers were detained on 24 april 2006. 

Me Gabi Ange Minda, one of Maruisz’s lawyers, said that although “he trusted the Belgium legal system and its independence” but that “politicians and the media want to sacrifice his client”. “He did not stab the victim”, said Mariusz’s lawyers.

Considering the gravity of the act and the fact that Mariusz provided his friend with the knife that killed Joe the accusation and the family of the victim presented a motion that Mariusz to be judged by a criminal court for adults.

The decision on the further proceedings will be taken this week.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news