According to Expatica News:
"Brussels Court sentenced Bouhouche in January 1995 to 20 years jail...
He was released on parole in September 2000 after serving 11 years of his 20-year jail term."
How did he serve 11 years in a period of 5 years?
Do Belgian jails have revolving doors, or can't the people runing the Belgian prison system count?
Full Version: Revolving doors? - Or just "can't count"?
Hello m. de vol,
Bouhouche had also served six years in pre-trial remand detention.
Thanks for spotting the omission, the text has been amended.
Best regards,
The Expatica Team
Bouhouche had also served six years in pre-trial remand detention.
Thanks for spotting the omission, the text has been amended.
Best regards,
The Expatica Team
And why exactly does it take 6 years to conclude a trial?
I have some experience in this area myself. Without going into too much detail, I happened to be witness to a murder in Brussels near where I work. The guy confessed to the crime and turned himself in to the police the next day. (It's worth noting that he slept the night in his own bed while Brussels' finest searched the city for him). Anyway, that was almost 4 years ago and I see this guy walking around in the neighborhood all the time. When I inquired I was told he was awaiting trial.
What kind of place allows a confessed killer to walk free while awaiting trial? This was no ordinary murder, he plunged a knife into a guy's heart. Clearly this man deserves to be in prison!
I have some experience in this area myself. Without going into too much detail, I happened to be witness to a murder in Brussels near where I work. The guy confessed to the crime and turned himself in to the police the next day. (It's worth noting that he slept the night in his own bed while Brussels' finest searched the city for him). Anyway, that was almost 4 years ago and I see this guy walking around in the neighborhood all the time. When I inquired I was told he was awaiting trial.
What kind of place allows a confessed killer to walk free while awaiting trial? This was no ordinary murder, he plunged a knife into a guy's heart. Clearly this man deserves to be in prison!
Quote:
(1)What kind of place allows a confessed killer to walk free while awaiting trial?
(2)This was no ordinary murder, he plunged a knife into a guy's heart.
(3)Clearly this man deserves to be in prison!
************************************
(1) A place which believes that (a) people should be granted bail unless (i) they are a flight risk or (ii) they are likely to re-offend and (
Accepts that everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
(2) Indeed. As there hasn't been a trial resulting in a conviction, nobody can say for sure it was murder.
(3) Not so. Is he a flight risk? Is he likely to re-offend? You don't know and unless the police have made an application for remand which has been accepted by the courts, he is entitled to be free. You can't (in most places) lock somebody up without any form of 'due process' just because he may be guilty.
Now if you were asking why it's taken so long to bring charges against him, that's another matter - but it's hardly likely to be *his* fault and although he may - eventually - be punished if he is found to have committed a crime, he should not be punished for the incompetence of the Belgian Police/Prosecutirs.
(1)What kind of place allows a confessed killer to walk free while awaiting trial?
(2)This was no ordinary murder, he plunged a knife into a guy's heart.
(3)Clearly this man deserves to be in prison!
************************************
(1) A place which believes that (a) people should be granted bail unless (i) they are a flight risk or (ii) they are likely to re-offend and (
Accepts that everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
(2) Indeed. As there hasn't been a trial resulting in a conviction, nobody can say for sure it was murder.
(3) Not so. Is he a flight risk? Is he likely to re-offend? You don't know and unless the police have made an application for remand which has been accepted by the courts, he is entitled to be free. You can't (in most places) lock somebody up without any form of 'due process' just because he may be guilty.
Now if you were asking why it's taken so long to bring charges against him, that's another matter - but it's hardly likely to be *his* fault and although he may - eventually - be punished if he is found to have committed a crime, he should not be punished for the incompetence of the Belgian Police/Prosecutirs.
Fair enough.
Your post made me think so I inquired with some police officer friends of mine. It turns out this guy has been in and out of institutions his whole adult life. It also turns out this crime was perpetrated when he was in a drug and alcohol induced stupor, implying he was not in control.
Given the free availability of alcohol and drugs in this city, don't you think that this person represents a danger to the community?
An interesting side fact: I asked the police and it turns out that this individual did not commit one crime while incarcerated.
Your post made me think so I inquired with some police officer friends of mine. It turns out this guy has been in and out of institutions his whole adult life. It also turns out this crime was perpetrated when he was in a drug and alcohol induced stupor, implying he was not in control.
Given the free availability of alcohol and drugs in this city, don't you think that this person represents a danger to the community?
An interesting side fact: I asked the police and it turns out that this individual did not commit one crime while incarcerated.
Quote:
It also turns out this crime was perpetrated when he was in a drug and alcohol induced stupor, implying he was not in control.
Given the free availability of alcohol and drugs in this city, don't you think that this person represents a danger to the community?
************************************
I can't comment with authority on Belgian Law, but under other jurisdictions (eg those of the UK) the fact that the defendant was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol would (probably - unless the prosecution could prove he had formed the intent to kill prior to becoming intoxicated) reduce the charge to a charge of manslaughter. (Murder is a crime of specific intent.) (The maximum panalties are the same, though.)
It does sound like he presents a danger to the community, so one may wonder why the police didn't ask that bail be denied.
One possible reason might be that if the Belgian authorities make a habit of locking people up for extended periods whilst awaiting trial they will find themselves in a lot of trouble over 'human rights.'
The better question is: 'Why does it take so long to bring an accused person to trial in Belgium?'
It also turns out this crime was perpetrated when he was in a drug and alcohol induced stupor, implying he was not in control.
Given the free availability of alcohol and drugs in this city, don't you think that this person represents a danger to the community?
************************************
I can't comment with authority on Belgian Law, but under other jurisdictions (eg those of the UK) the fact that the defendant was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol would (probably - unless the prosecution could prove he had formed the intent to kill prior to becoming intoxicated) reduce the charge to a charge of manslaughter. (Murder is a crime of specific intent.) (The maximum panalties are the same, though.)
It does sound like he presents a danger to the community, so one may wonder why the police didn't ask that bail be denied.
One possible reason might be that if the Belgian authorities make a habit of locking people up for extended periods whilst awaiting trial they will find themselves in a lot of trouble over 'human rights.'
The better question is: 'Why does it take so long to bring an accused person to trial in Belgium?'
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