An Oostakker jeweller who shot a robbery suspect dead in 2018 was given a suspended fine and prison term of €800 and 10 months respectively on Monday.
The Ghent magistrates’ court did not uphold self-defence. “Due to the emotion of the brutal, violent robbery, his free will was impaired but not completely disabled,” the verdict read.
The Oostaker jeweller was prosecuted for provoked murder. The civil parties and the public prosecutor had appealed against the decision of the council chamber, which had acquitted the suspect of homicide on the grounds of “irresistible duress.”
The events date back to midday on Saturday 7 July 2018, when two men entered the jeweller’s shop. The investigation showed that they were armed and took jewellery. As they fled on a moped, the jeweller pursued them with a gun and fired, fatally wounding one of the suspects.
According to the jeweller’s lawyer, his client had been subjected to “irresistible duress,” which the court had recognised.
However, the indictment division found the opposite, agreeing with the public prosecutor.
