2023-10-01 07:37:00
For many defendants, a first visit to the Brussels courthouse can be very intimidating. The grandeur of the building in which some people play part of their lives is paralyzing. For others, the Palais de la Place Poelaert is a common place as they have had to go there to defend themselves on numerous occasions. This is the case of Ivan (not his real name), a 45-year-old Albanian, who has a criminal record as long as his arm. In addition to numerous driving incidents, the man who moved to Belgium 25 years ago is currently imprisoned for drug charges.
On this Wednesday morning in September, it is for a new case that he faces justice: handcuffs on his wrists and surrounded by two police officers, he arrives to defend himself once morest acts of rape with kidnapping, violent theft and blows and wounds. All regarding one and the same person, Anna (not her real name), his ex-partner of Polish origin with whom he had a relationship for 9 years.
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“I want to say directly that I did not rape her,” says Ivan from the outset as the President details the facts with which he is accused. “I didn’t steal from her either, I just burned her passport and kept her ID all night. In fact, you should know that it all started with an argument…”
“Sir, you are already justifying yourself when it is not the time,” the President cuts him off. You are making a case once morest yourself. I’ll try to stay calm, don’t make me get high blood pressure…”
Simply grabbed by the throat…
The facts date back to December 2020. Anna and Ivan are no longer together, but the first visits the second for the sole purpose of recovering a bank card that arrived by post at his old address. Ivan jumps at the chance to try to patch things up with his ex and asks her to have sex. She refuses, an argument breaks out and Ivan locks Anna in his house for a few days. He confiscates her identity card and passport so that she can no longer return to Poland.
gull
“Against me you wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight but once morest her.”
“I just closed the door so she mightn’t leave,” he explains.
“That’s what we call kidnapping… And you hit him?”
”I don’t remember. In nine years of dating, I have never hit her. That night, I just grabbed her by the throat during our argument.”
“Come and see the photos, she has bruises on her legs and arms,” says the President to this former truck driver. She didn’t do this alone. She is very frail compared to you. Against me you wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight, but once morest her…”
During her confinement, Anna managed to contact her new companion who alerted the police. The police arrived on site and found a totally frightened woman and a very nervous man.
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morbid jealousy
Ivan is having a hard time with the end of his relationship with Anna and he is all the more upset during this closed session in his Brussels apartment when he learns that his former partner has started a new life with someone else. By messages and video calls, he sends her messages of intimidation and harassment. “You call his new companion a ‘PD’,” says the President. First of all, if he is ‘PD’, he would not be with your former partner… But above all, it is not a word to use. It’s not fun for people who are gay.”
“You are right…”
”I am always right, it’s a principle.”
The Prosecutor then speaks and portrays Ivan as a manipulator – not necessarily violent, but very macho – finding himself in the classic context of the end of a relationship which leads to violence. A sentence of between 20 and 30 months with a probationary suspension is requested with the obligation for the man to carry out personal work on his macho and possessive side.
For the defense, Ivan was in such psychological distress given the end of the relationship that he reacted in an extreme manner. Given the peace between the two parties since the events, a total reprieve is requested by his lawyer.
Before returning to the cell, Ivan asks to speak one last time. “I know that I was not worthy,” he says. For me, women are equal to men.”
“By sequestering this woman and beating her,” the President concluded, “we cannot really say that you considered her as your equal…”
Judgment on October 25.
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