Belgian man Vincent Franck’s trial is set to commence on Wednesday in the Liège's court of assizes after he was accused of manslaughter and serious traffic obstruction.
Franck, an Amay resident, is alleged to have caused the death of Bogos Babahan, a 60-year-old German lorry driver, at a motorway service area in Couthuin. The fatal event occurred when Franck reportedly drove over the man with his vehicle.
The event transpired around 9:15 am on 23 October 2019 at a motorway service area near the E42 in Couthuin, a district of the Liège town, Héron.
Earlier that day, Franck drove his company van next to Babahan’s lorry on a part of the road undergoing construction in Huccorgne. He abruptly veered his van forcing the lorry to a halt. Both vehicles eventually came to a standstill at the Couthuin motorway service area.
Babahan got out and used his mobile phone to film what happened. He made his way to Franck’s van to talk to him. But the latter drove towards him and ran him over.
The accused’s daughter was a passenger in her father’s vehicle that day. She explained that he had a habit of behaving like a traffic cop and that he liked to swerve in front of lorries to force them to slow down if they were driving too fast for his liking. She also confirmed that he deliberately overturned the victim and that he had said it was better for the truck driver to die.
The trial will last for eight days. Debates on the merits will start on Monday, September 9, with the reading of the bill of indictment.
