Fugitive Murder Suspect Gets New Trial on Sentencing

A 69-year-old murder suspect who fled to France the day before his verdict will appear in court again, but this time the jury will not revisit whether he committed the crime.

The case began in May 2017, when investigators found a suitcase containing the body of a 74-year-old man in the Brussels-Charleroi Canal. Police quickly identified the victim through his pacemaker. The investigation led them to the victim’s neighbor after detectives learned that the suitcase had been sold in only two Belgian stores, including one in Charleroi. The neighbor had bought one on the day of the murder.

The suspect has always denied involvement. He said the victim had already died before he intervened.

In January 2026, the man stood trial before the assize court in Mons, alongside his son, who was accused of helping him. The defendant fled to France the day before the verdict and was convicted of murder in absentia. His son was acquitted.

The man was found several weeks later and opposed the in-absentia conviction. That legal challenge gives him a new trial. The jury’s finding of guilt remains in place, and the proceedings will focus solely on determining his punishment. The jury is due to be formed tomorrow.