A case against a police officer for the death of 17-year-old Mehdi Bouda in 2019 has been dismissed based on orders from the Brussels Council Chamber.
Bouda's family, along with both the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking Human Rights Leagues, had called for four involved police officers to be referred to the criminal court for involuntary manslaughter, culpable negligence and inhumane treatment.
On 20 August 2019, the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone was conducting checks on various individuals around Mont des Arts. Bouda fled the scene at the sight of the officers. He was subsequently chased down Rue Ravenstein, and when crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing during a red light, he was struck down by a police car which witnesses say moved after the lights turned green. The teenager died at the site of the incident.
"The family is deeply shocked by the Council Chamber's decision," a family spokesperson said in a statement. "They cannot comprehend why the officers, implicated in Mehdi's death and alleged degrading treatment, are not being held accountable."
The decision "once again proves the impunity enjoyed by police officers while too many young lives are lost due to their actions," the statement added.
