Spanish police charged over expat’s death

7 April 2006

BRUSSELS — Four policemen in Marbella, Spain, have been charged with manslaughter over the death of Belgian expat Lieven De Wilde.

The man died on 9 February after he was detained by Spanish police, news service VRT reported on Friday.

Police said the man was drunk and that an autopsy revealed he had suffered a heart attack.

But witnesses claim the man was thrown against a pole and a car by police and shoved to the ground with a knee in his neck.

A second autopsy at the request of De Wilde’s parents has since indicated he suffered physical abuse.

The cause of death was found to be suffocation because his mouth and nose were pressed together against a flat surface.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Belgian news