Approximately one hundred civil parties involved in the Strépy tragedy gathered on Thursday in the Saint-Julien sports hall, which is located just a few hundred meters from rue des Canadiens where the incident occurred. They were able to watch the reconstruction of the tragedy live on a giant screen. David Gelay, the lawyer for the Imperiale family who lost three members in the tragedy, said that it was an emotionally difficult moment for his clients. The perpetrator was tearful and spoke regarding his personal situation, which did not go down well with those present.
David Gelay’s clients were seeking answers rather than excuses. The reconstruction helped to clarify certain grey areas, and they were able to go to the scene of the accident with other representatives of the civil parties and the accused, which allowed them to see the reality on the ground. The visibility at the scene of the accident was very good despite the dark night. The reconstruction was particularly focused on the moment when Fred D’Andrea was hit by the vehicle, which was of great importance to David Gelay’s clients, as one of their family members was in the cabin at the time.
David Gelay said that the reconstruction showed that it was not a simple accident but a murderous behavior. The perpetrator was driving at a crazy speed and was filming himself at the moment of impact, which were just two elements among others that proved it. The reconstruction was well-orchestrated by the investigating judge.
This Thursday, around a hundred people who are civil parties in the case of the Strépy tragedy were gathered in the Saint-Julien sports hall, located just a few hundred meters from the rue des Canadiens where the tragedy took place. Those present were able to follow the reconstruction live on a giant screen. “For my clients, it was a very trying moment, very difficult to manage on an emotional level.”, told us David Gelay, lawyer for the Imperiale family who lost three of his members in the tragedy. “All the more so since on several occasions, the perpetrator was tearful, referring in particular to his personal situation, saying for example things like, and I quote, “I don’t want anyone to be in my place ”. Statements that went rather badly in the room.”
David Gelay’s clients were more looking for answers to their questions than excuses. “The reconstruction allowed us to clarify certain gray areas. I was able to go, with the other representatives of the civil parties and the accused, directly to the scene and we were able to see the reality on the ground. It appeared that the visibility, for example, was very good at the scene of the accident despite the dark night. The reconstruction was particularly attached to a specific moment in the unfolding, namely the moment when Fred D’Andrea was hit by the vehicle.”
A moment of importance for David Gelay’s clients. “All the more important since one of my clients’ family members was in the cabin at the time. They were able to visualize a bit what had happened. Without going into details, the reconstruction of this Thursday, moreover very well orchestrated by the investigating judge, also allowed us to see that it was not a simple accident but a murderous behavior . The crazy speed at which he was driving and the fact that he was filming himself at the moment of impact are just two elements among others that prove it..”
The reconstruction of the Strépy tragedy brought some answers but also emotions for those who lost their loved ones. The civil parties present were able to see the reality on the ground and understand the severity of the situation. Despite some tearful apologies from the accused, there was no excuse for the murderous behavior displayed in that moment. For those affected, the reconstruction was an important step towards justice and closure.
