A 66-year-old man appeared in the Mechelen Court on Monday, facing charges of intentional assault causing over four months of work incapacity.
The prosecution has requested a two-year prison sentence and a fine of €1,600, with both penalties suspended if the man agrees to undergo anger management.
The incident occurred when the man arrived at doctor’s office for to collect his wife’s medical records. He believed her condition had worsened since starting the therapy and wanted another doctor’s opinion.
Arriving an hour before his wife’s appointment, the man grew impatient waiting in the reception area. He then barged into the treatment room, where another patient was being attended to.
"The doctor asked him to leave, but he quickly grabbed his wife’s medical file from her desk," stated the prosecutor.
"When the doctor tried to stop him by closing the door, he grabbed and twisted her wrist repeatedly, causing severe injury. This is why we seek a two-year prison sentence and a €1,600 fine, suspended on the condition he receives anger management treatment."
The defendant asked for an acquittal. "She provoked the incident. Why didn’t she just let him leave instead of trying to stop him?" questioned his lawyer, Johan Vangenechten. "I still don’t understand why she didn’t let me go," the man added. "I wasn’t aggressive."
The injured doctor requested provisional damages of €25,000 for herself and €75,000 for her practice. "Due to my wrist injury, I struggle with acupuncture and can see fewer patients, impacting my income," she explained.
