On June 6, 2019, Queen Mathilde visited the Kamiano, a center that welcomes homeless people in Antwerp. She took the time to greet the workers who, on a daily basis, take care of people in need.
What she didn’t know was that one of the individuals she had shaken hands with would become a murderer just over a year later.
Indeed, Gunter Uwents, a 37-year-old man from Berchem, admitted to killing Maria “Mieke” Verlinden, his former teacher. The man had been arrested on Sunday and had “made a detailed statement regarding his involvement in the facts”. His DNA profile also matches the sample found at the crime scene.
As explained, Gunter Uwents is a former student of the victim. His motive is, for the moment, unclear. But 30 years ago, when he was in primary school in Maria “Mieke” Verlinden’s class, he would have felt “humiliated”. He even speaks of a “traumatic” school year, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
But, according to his lawyer, he would be remorseful and would like to provide explanations to those close to Ms. Verlinden.
Maria “Mieke” Verlinden was last found dead on November 10, 2020 at her home in Herentals, by her husband. She had received more than 100 stab wounds.
