A man who surrendered to the police after a double murder in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean appeared before the Brussels Council Chamber on Friday.
In his thirties, the man admitted responsibility for the deaths of the two victims, his lawyer said. However, the motives behind his actions remain unclear, and his legal counsel did not ask for his client’s release.
On Tuesday around 3 p.m., the suspect presented himself at a Brussels North police station, stating he had stabbed someone at a property on Henri Hollevoet Avenue, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
Brussels West police proceeded to the address and discovered two bodies of a 55-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. Emergency services were unable to save Paul Buyse, a locally recognised artist, and his former partner.
Following this, the 34-year-old suspect was deprived of his liberty. A judge subsequently charged him with murder and on Friday, the council chamber confirmed his detention.
Initial investigation elements suggest that the crime occurred within a relationship context, the prosecutor informed on Thursday.
Some media outlets have reported that the suspect may be suffering from mental health issues, a detail not confirmed by his lawyer, Nicolas Crutzen.
Crutzen clarified his client has lived in Belgium for 11 years and had never had any dealings with the law before this. He was reportedly welcomed into the victims’ home for assistance.
The investigation will strive to shed light on the killer’s motives and the sequence of events.
