A seven-year-old boy who died in Merchtem, about 20 km out of Brussels, on Wednesday night was violently killed, prosecutors said on Friday. The child's uncle is suspected of murder, and the boy's mother and her friend have been accused of failing to help him.
Emergency services were called to an apartment in Korte Ridderstraat in Merchtem on Wednesday night, according to the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office. The boy was found lifeless. They attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead shortly before 01:00 by the emergency doctor at the scene.
Prosecutors said suspicions quickly arose as the child had several visible injuries and bruises. A forensic doctor was appointed to examine the boy at the scene, and an autopsy was later carried out at the hospital.
The autopsy found that the boy had sustained several injuries that, according to the forensic doctor, are consistent with child abuse. The doctor concluded that the child died as a result of those injuries.
Three other people were in the apartment that night: the boy's 27-year-old mother, his 24-year-old uncle (her brother), and the mother's female friend. According to prosecutors, only the uncle is officially registered at the Merchtem address.
The mother and child are registered in Denderleeuw, but a neighbourhood inquiry found that they had been staying with the uncle in Merchtem for about two months.
The mother, the uncle and the friend were arrested on Thursday morning and have since been questioned. All three are due to appear before an investigating judge on Friday.
The uncle is being accused of murder, while the mother and her friend are accused of criminal negligence for allegedly failing to act. The prosecution is requesting that all three be remanded in custody.
