Two dead in family tragedy

15 May 2007

BRUSSELS – The bodies of an elderly man and woman were found in their home in Zele, Oost-Vlanderen on Monday. Investigation shows their deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.

A spokesperson for the public prosecution department in Dendermonde says the man first killed his wife and then himself. The incident took place about two weeks ago.

The couple from Zele, a 72-year-old man and his 70-year-old wife, reportedly had little contact with the outside world. This is why it took so long before neighbours alerted police that they had not seen or heard anything from the couple in some time. The officers found the bodies in the home on the Cederlaan at about 4 pm on Monday.

The public prosecution department and the examining magistrate of Dendermonde visited the scene. The initial investigation seems to show that the man strangled his wife before hanging himself.

Neighbours say that the couple had no children and rarely sought contact with anyone and that they hadn’t seen any other family members in years. The man had apparently attempted suicide at least once in the past but was saved by his wife. He spent some time in a psychiatric institution after that incident.

Subject: Belgian news