The Brussels Assize Court on Wednesday sentenced Emmanuel Olakunle and Myriam Abraham to 22 years and 20 years in prison respectively for torturing the latter’s ten-month-old baby, Zion, who died from his injuries.
The jury ruled that they will also remain at the disposal of the criminal court for five years after serving their prison sentences.
On Tuesday, the couple was found guilty of torture resulting in the death of little Zion, and of assault and battery on the woman’s two other children.
The Nigerian couple, who had migrated to Belgium shortly before the events, have always denied abusing the children. However, according to the jury, they could not provide a plausible explanation for the baby’s fatal injuries.
The jury ruled that there were no mitigating circumstances for Olakunle, but that there were for Abraham since she had been a victim of sexual and physical violence in her youth.
Reference was also made to the extreme seriousness and cruelty of the crimes, committed against an extremely vulnerable victim.
