It was less than two years ago. September 29, 2020. That evening at 6:30 p.m., Frank Goes, administrator of Goest companies and president of the Construction Federation (FEGC) is stabbed several times in the street, as he was leaving the headquarters of his company, in Jette. The motive for the crime then remains unknown and the victim’s wife and her two children think of an attempted robbery with violence which would have gone wrong. But it wasn’t Frank Goes’ laptop that the killer was aiming for. Far from there. Two months following the events, the investigation will lead the police to Dylan Duby, a 24-year-old young man, a former football player from Liège, who will declare that he was commissioned by a sponsor to “to scare” to Frank Goes, once morest the sum of 10,000 euros. A total of five people will be arrested. Dylan Duby, an alleged accomplice, two intermediaries and a construction company boss, named as the sponsor of this assassination.
“It’s total misunderstanding”
Less than two years following the tragedy, all are free. Dylan Duby, placed until then under an electronic bracelet, has just obtained his release under conditions (not to leave the territory, etc.) by the indictment chamber. A decision that deeply shocks the victim’s wife, Karin Goes and her children. “What do you have to do in this country to be in prison?”asks the 56-year-old scientist. “It’s total misunderstanding”exclaims his son. “He confessed to having killed my husband, he already had a criminal record with this crime, he says he acted for the sum of 10,000 euros. He had done several scouting before taking action, he even followed us to the restaurant a few days before. A tracer had been placed under my husband’s vehicle. He even came to watch our house. He knew perfectly well what he was doing and, less than two years following the events, he was released, even before the trial. I don’t blame him for asking for his release, nor his lawyer for that matter. But how, as a judge, can you sleep peacefully knowing that you are releasing a person who potentially might reoffend, even before his judgment. What are the values of our society? And above all, why? Why decide to release him now? Just let us know the reasons. There are none. If his loved ones were in the terminal phase, I might once more, at the limit, to understand. But there, nothing”repeats Karin Goes. “You have to commit genocide to be in prison? What regarding victims’ rights? It’s too difficult to understand and accept this decision”is suing his 31-year-old son.
“The police conducted an incredible investigation to trace the murderer and the sponsor. They did a remarkable job and a few months later, this is what justice sends them as a signal. Let me be motivated by this release because there, I do not understand”exclaims Karin once more.
“We will never see Dad once more. Yet he had so many plans. All this for a story of conflict in a public market. We do not understand why the sponsor, whose company has an annual turnover of more than 8 million euros, wanted to have someone executed for this kind of conflict. What is even more incomprehensible is the message that justice conveys by releasing murderers even before their trial. We cannot remain silent in the face of such decisions”, adds the son of Frank Goes. Defended by criminal lawyers Sven Mary and Jean-Philippe Mayence, the Goes family comes out of silence in the hope of making justice aware of the impact that this type of decision can have on victims in general. “We at least ask for an explanation”Termine Karin.
“From a human point of view, I completely understand the emotional reaction of the family of Frank Goes”says lawyer Sven Mary. “If I was in their situation, I would react that way too. It’s just terrible. But as a rational lawyer, I see that this is a very strict application of the law on the remand. As a lawyer, I respect this decision. But following 27 years of legal practice, I can only say that it remains a huge lottery. I sometimes see suspects who have not committed murder and who are in remand longer. Why is one and the other isn’t? I don’t know. Maybe I’m not smart enough for that.”adds the criminal cynically.
“There is no need to be upset”
Contacted by us, Dylan Duby’s lawyer, Me Nathalie Gallant, says she does not understand this reaction: “Mr. Dylan D. was indeed released under conditions by judgment of the Brussels indictment chamber of June 27, 2022. This release, which comes following more than 18 months of preventive detention, follows the prior releases of the alleged recruiter of Dylan and of the alleged sponsor of the acts committed to the detriment of Mr. Goes. Without a sponsor, there is no executioner and it is thanks to Dylan’s confessions that the investigators were able to trace the other accused and identify other potential victims. There is therefore no reason to be moved by this release under strict conditions. This is not the time for a debate on the characterization of the facts, a debate which will take place before the Assize Court as well as that on the fair sentence to be imposed. A release is not a denial of justice but a fair application of the Belgian law on preventive detention. Dylan deeply regrets the gesture which took the life of Mr. Goes even if he is aware that its re grets are no match for the suffering of the victim’s family.”
