Monday evening, shortly before midnight, the flashing lights lit up rue Camille Lebon, a stone’s throw from Cité Parc and the eponymous school in Marcinelle (Charleroi). Ambulance and SMUR rushed, following a call for help from the husband, to help Claire, 52. The neighbors speak of a fall on the stairs of these social row houses, bel-floors, “but sir was taken away by the police!”
A raid did take place on the spot: the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office confirms that a woman born in 1970 was found dead last night in her home. The husband, who called for help, was deprived of his liberty in the process. But according to the prosecution, the circumstances are very murky. Is it murder, femicide, or not? Hard to say right now. To shed light on the circumstances of the tragedy, the file was put to the instruction with judge Constant Laffineur. “An autopsy was carried out to find out more, we cannot give any specific information at this stage. The husband was deprived of his liberty during the night and can be presented to the investigating judge depending on the evolution. folder”, says the prosecution. The door of the family home is in any case sealed, and the husband was hospitalized, obviously for alcohol problem. We might not confirm whether he was free or not during his hospitalization.
In the neighborhood, a quiet enclosure where a string of children play outside, everyone knows each other. And everyone knows Claire and her husband, obviously, including a drinking problem. “I knew her since we were little”slips a neighbor from her window. “He is very calm, polite.”
However, the couple was apparently struggling. “I’ve heard them arguing before but it didn’t sound particularly serious or violent. Like all couples, in fact. It’s terrible what happened, I don’t think he might have hurt her but you never know.” According to Télésambre, this was not the first time that an ambulance was sent to the couple’s home, following falls apparently due to alcohol.
