Strépy-Bracquegnies tragedy: Paolo Falzone found guilty of seven murders, sentencing pending

A Belgian court has found Paolo Falzone guilty of seven murders and 79 attempted murders in connection with the tragic Strépy-Bracquegnies incident. His sentence will be determined alongside his co-accused, Antonino Falzone, who faces charges for failing to assist approximately 50 people in danger.

Prosecutors are seeking 27 years of imprisonment for Paolo Falzone, urging the court not to go below 24 years. The incident occurred on March 20, 2022, when Paolo Falzone, driving a BMW at excessive speed, struck a carnival group. Antonino Falzone, who was reportedly conveying the vehicle, faces a request for two years in prison.

During the proceedings, Paolo Falzone's defense counsel argued for a 25-year sentence, while Antonino Falzone's lawyer pleaded for a two-year suspended sentence. Unlike Paolo, Antonino was not held in preventive detention.

The court's verdict emphasized that Paolo Falzone's actions were not a mere driving error. Jurors concluded he deliberately engaged in criminal behavior, accelerating into the crowd with a car he had modified and enhanced. The court deemed the event a crime, not an accident, particularly as Falzone was reportedly attempting to create a social media video at speeds exceeding 170 km/h in a built-up area.