A man born in 1995 appeared on Wednesday before the Verviers magistrates’ court, where he was accused, among other things, of raping his wife, whom he met abroad. He is also charged with beating and harassing her.
The couple met in Tunisia where the woman, born in 1969, was on holiday. They soon married in Tunisia before returning to Belgium.
On 21 April at around 10 p.m., the woman stopped a police patrol and explained that she had been raped and beaten by her husband. She showed a number of injuries, including bruises, consistent with her statements.
When questioned by the police, the husband categorically denied the rape and explained that it had just been sexual relations between spouses. He repeated these explanations in court.
He played down the facts and admitted giving his wife "little slaps" in order to control her when she was in the middle of a hysterical fit after taking cocaine.
Arrested and detained since 26 April, the defendant is also accused of harassing his wife from Lantin prison.
At the hearing, he admitted calling her on several occasions because he needed money. He also said that he had given her number to other inmates who had subsequently made phone calls to her. The prosecution’s lawyer charged that the aim of these phone calls was to put pressure on the victim to withdraw her complaint.
The prosecution is seeking a 5-year prison sentence.
The defence disputed the charges of rape and harassment, called for an acquittal on those charges, and a suspended sentence for the beating.
Judgement on 13 September.
