A panel of psychiatric experts was appointed to assess the mental state of the man suspected of killing a social worker in Ghent. The panel was formed at the request of the Ghent investigating judge.
On Wednesday evening, a 56-year-old social worker was killed during a home visit in a social housing apartment in Nieuw Gent.
The local authorities were first alerted on Wednesday around 19:45 by the Public Centre for Social Welfare (PCSW, also known as CPAS in French), as the social worker had not arrived at his second home visit.
At the location of the last home visit in Kikvorsstraat, the police found the body of the victim. The resident, a 38-year-old man, was not present but was arrested after a search in the Brugse Poort in Ghent.
The suspect was questioned and then brought before the investigating judge, who remanded him in custody for murder.
The man is of Syrian origin and has been living in Belgium for several years. He was not previously known to the police or the judicial authorities.
According to VRT NWS, the suspect had previously spent several periods in psychiatric care. This has not yet been confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office.
On Tuesday, the suspect will appear before a judge, who will decide whether he will remain in custody. The autopsy on the victim will take place on Saturday.
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This article was updated at 13:50.
