On Monday, the Hainaut Assize Court sentenced Mario Di Santo and Leslie Salade to 25 years in prison each for the murder of Frédéric Robert, which took place on 23 September 2022 in a shopping centre car park in Haine-Saint-Pierre.
On the morning of the verdict, the public prosecutor requested a 25-year sentence, urging the jury not to drop below 20 years due to the brutality of the crime and its significant impact on public order. The jury and court agreed, acknowledging mitigating circumstances for Mario Di Santo, such as his quick confession, cooperation with the investigation, and sincere remorse.
Despite these mitigating factors, the court emphasised the extreme violence of Di Santo’s actions, his key role in the crime, and his substantial criminal history. At the time of the offence, he was in violation of probation conditions that prohibited contact with Leslie. The judges highlighted the toxic nature of his relationship with Leslie, as well as his jealousy-fuelled anger exacerbated by alcohol and drugs.
Leslie Salade had led a relatively stable life until 2018 but was found guilty of the same crime as her partner. The court noted her significant role in instigating the conflict, having falsely accused Robert of stealing €30,000 that had actually passed through her own bank account. She further claimed he had been violent towards her children and behaved inappropriately with their daughter, allegations later proven false.
On 23 September 2022, the couple travelled from Morlanwelz to Haine-Saint-Pierre to confront Frédéric Robert, who had become Leslie’s partner while Di Santo was imprisoned. Di Santo, prohibited from contacting Leslie since January 2021, resumed contact upon release, escalating the conflict. That evening, learning Robert was camping near the shopping centre, Di Santo accompanied by Leslie, attacked him. In court, he admitted to the assault but denied intent to kill, while Leslie admitted to slapping Robert twice but denied strangling him.
The court ultimately rejected Di Santo’s defence of causing death without intent and found Leslie Salade to be a co-perpetrator who strangled the victim, dismissing the defence claims of mere assault.
