The man who set his wife on fire in Houthalen-Helchteren last week has been arrested. The 35-year-old man, who committed the acts while on penitentiary leave, appeared before the investigating judge on Sunday and was charged with attempting to murder his wife. He was then transferred to prison.
The criminal, M.H., was already convicted in 2023 for partner violence against his wife and possession of weapons. He then punched her in the abdomen while she was 7.5 months pregnant. For those offences, he received a 37-month jail term. In April, he was allowed to leave prison on penitentiary leave without conditions.
Things went wrong again last Thursday when, during an argument, he doused his partner, in front of her children, with fire accelerants and set her on fire.
On Friday evening, he was found in an empty house on Kazernelaan after a tip-off. The police sent a drone into the air and the footage taken showed that the electric scooter he had fled with on Thursday after the arson was parked at the house. After police arrived, he fled onto the roof, from which he fell after an hour-long struggle.
After the fall Saturday night, he was taken to hospital. On Sunday, he was arraigned before the investigating judge, who decided to detain him further.
