The victim and his friend were doing work on the roof of the industrial building that he had purchased in Marchienne, with the intention of transforming it into a loft. While working, the neighbor approached them, complaining of the noise they were making. It is unclear whether the argument that ensued became heated, but the accused climbed up the ladder to the roof and fired several shots, one of which hit Jean-Yves Wargnies in the leg. Wargnies fled to safety in a nearby street, where the accused caught up with him and demanded to know if he had called the police. On receiving a positive response, the accused shot Wargnies in the head. Police found four casings at different locations on the scene.
In his confession to investigators, Domenico Puddu admitted to intentionally aiming for Wargnies’ head when he fired the fatal shot. He claimed that if Wargnies hadn’t answered him rudely when he asked him to stop making noise, the incident wouldn’t have occurred. Puddu said that an accumulation of nuisances made him uncontrollably angry, resulting in the tragic outcome.
This was not the first time that the accused had been in conflict with Wargnies. In 2016, the police were notified of a threat that Puddu had made to Wargnies using a firearm. Although his house was searched, no weapon was found. Puddu’s relative warned that he became obsessive and extremely violent when something upset him. His criminal record includes convictions for making threats, assault, willful destruction, harassment, insults, and assault and battery. He had been in prison since December 30, 2019 and his appeal for release had been denied.
Wargnies had lived an interesting life, having been a rock singer, opening a cafe on Place de la Digue in Charleroi, and participating in the Belgian edition of Star Academy in the early 2000s. His death caused shock and sadness in the community. A towering fresco has been erected in his memory at the location of his cafe stating that “Here the worker meets the lawyer”.
That morning, the victim was doing some work on his roof with a friend. He had bought this former industrial building in Marchienne in 2016 with the aim of transforming it into a loft. His neighbor came to tell him that he was making too much noise. Has the tone risen between the two men? Still, the accused then climbed the ladder that led to the roof. He fired several times and hit Jean-Yves Wargnies in the leg. The latter jumped from the roof and fled through a street adjoining his property. Domenico Puddu followed him and joined him near an electric pole. He then allegedly asked him if he had called the police. After Mr. Wargnies’ positive response, he shot him in the head. During their investigation, the police will find four casings in different places of the crime scene.
During his hearing by investigators, Domenico Puddu admitted that he was aiming for the head of Jean-Yves Wargnies when he touched him the second and last time. He will also specify that if Jean-Yves Wargnies “didn’t answer him badly” when he asked herto stop making noise, none of this would have happened”. He justified his act by “an accumulation of nuisances that cause an uncontrollable anger to rise and that the irreparable has been committed”.
A violent past, several convictions
In 2016, the police had already been notified of a problem between Domenico Puddu and his neighbor. The accused had already threatened Jean-Yves Wargnies with a “gun shot”. He had been interviewed by the police, his home had been searched, but no weapon had been found. The man has a rather violent past. During the investigation, a relative said that “when something disturbs him, he is obsessive and limitless, extremely violent”. As for his criminal record, there is a suspension of judgment for acts of threats, assault and willful destruction (1997). In 1999, he spent time in prison for what he himself describes as “dispute with a neighbour”. He was sentenced for these facts to a ten-month suspended sentence. In 2002, he was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for harassment, threats and insults. Finally, in 2004, he received a three-month suspended prison sentence for assault and battery causing permanent incapacity for work. In prison since December 30, 2019, he appealed once to try to get out, which was refused.
The death of Jean-Yves Wargnies aroused a major wave of emotion in the Charleroi region. The victim had had several lives. Singer in a rock group in the 90s, he twice provided the first part of the group Indochine. In the early 2000s, he participated in the only Belgian edition of Star Academy. Chaining jobs in different sectors, he opened, a few years before his death, a café – “Chez ta mère” – on the Place de la Digue in Charleroi. The motto of the establishment: “Here the worker meets the lawyer”. From now on, on this place of Charleroi, one can see an imposing fresco representing it.
The tragic death of Jean-Yves Wargnies at the hands of his neighbor, Domenico Puddu, has left a community mourning the loss of a beloved and multi-talented individual. Puddu’s violent past and history of aggressive behavior are a sobering reminder of the dangers of unresolved conflict and anger. While justice has been served with Puddu’s imprisonment, the memory of Jean-Yves Wargnies will continue to live on through the legacy he has left behind. His contributions to the arts and the community will not be forgotten, and his loss serves as a reminder to always strive for peace and understanding in our daily interactions with others.
