Prosecutors at the Charleroi Correctional Court of Charleroi on Monday requested prison terms of five and six years for two defendants connected with a man’s death by methadone ingestion.
On 12 April 2018, in Erquelinnes, Hainaut, a man in his thirties was found lifeless, lying on a mattress with vomit by his side. A suspicious death investigation was opened.
Toxicology results revealed that the victim had died after swallowing a methadone capsule. “The victim’s blood contained an abnormally high dose of methadone – 500 mg/l,” prosecutors explained.
On 16 April, the second defendant’s doctor voluntarily contacted the police and admitted to writing a false prescription in the victim's name to enable the defendant, who lacked medical insurance, to secure his daily treatment.
The prosecution argued that both the doctor and the second defendant were at fault. Prosecutors stressed, in particular, the dangerous behaviour of the physician, who acknowledged, during questioning, that he had also done this for other patients.
A five-year prison sentence was requested for the doctor, and a six-year term for the second defendant, who was tried in absentia.
The verdict is expected on 9 September.
