The trial of Mario Di Santo and Leslie Salade, accused of murdering Frédéric Robert in 2022, will begin at 14:00 on Thursday before the Hainaut Assize Court in Mons, with the drawing of lots for the jury.
On 23 September 2022, Frédéric Robert, a 44-year-old homeless man, was beaten to death in the car park of the chaussée de Redemont shopping centre in Haine-Saint-Pierre (La Louvière).
Earlier in the year, on 17 February 2022, Mario Di Santo had been placed under arrest following an argument with his partner while on probation. He had learned that Leslie had been having an affair with Frédéric Robert while he was in prison.
On 23 September, he allegedly threatened Frédéric Robert by telephone that he would kill him because of his alleged relationship with Leslie. Fearing that Mario would act, Frédéric’s friends advised him to go into hiding. That evening, however, he was beaten to death with iron bars and nails.
Homicidal intent will be at the heart of the trial, which is scheduled to last eight days.
