A reconstruction of the tragic events that occurred during the carnival of Strépy-Bracquegnies was held at the rue des Canadiens on Thursday evening. The purpose of this reenactment was to shed light on certain unresolved aspects of the investigation that occurred on March 20, 2022. To ensure the integrity of the reenactment, a large police presence was used to prevent access to the area. The parade was depicted using numerous actors, and more than a hundred victims’ families were able to witness the event in person. The BMW car that struck the procession, killing six and injuring thirty, had been driven by Paolo Falzone, who has been incarcerated since the incident. Falzone has been charged with murder and manslaughter relating to the accident, and he was required to be present during the reenactment. The goal of the reconstruction was to offer clarity regarding the vehicle’s speed and the driver’s visibility at the moment of the crash. Lawyers for both the victims and the driver shared their thoughts on the reenactment, emphasizing the stress and trauma it caused for the families of the victims.
A reconstruction of the drama of the carnival of Strépy-Bracquegnies took place Thursday evening on the scene of the facts, at the rue des Canadiens. The objective was to try to remove certain gray areas in the investigation, at a specific moment in time.
A very large device, fed by several dozen police officers, has been put in place, strictly prohibiting access to the place of the reconstitution, the rue des Canadiens. Many extras were mobilized to represent the carnival procession on the morning of March 20, 2022. More than a hundred civil parties were welcomed inside the device, in the local sports hall where they were able to see the images of the reconstitution.
The drama of the carnival of Strépy-Bracquegnies dates back to March 20, 2022: a BMW car had struck, in the early morning, the procession of the carnival of Strépy during the collection of the gilles, killing six people and injuring around thirty others.
The driver of the car, Paolo Falzone, has been in prison since the incident. He is charged with the murder of one of the victims of the tragedy. He is also charged with manslaughter for five other victims. The person concerned had to be on site for the reconstitution.
The reconstruction should make it possible to remove certain gray areas around the file, at a specific moment in time, in particular at the level of the speed of the car and the visibility of the driver before the impact in the crowd.
“It’s going to be a test because each time, they relive the tragedy that affected them. It’s a moment of great stress and great anguish. They are waiting for an answer. For them, it’s a fight for the memory of their family, to be able to have the answers to the many questions that arise”, says David Gellay, the lawyer for the victims of the tragedy.
“When I asked the investigating judge what she expected from my client, she did not want to answer us. It will be a surprise for us to know what will be asked of us. This reconstruction n It is not relative to all the facts, but to a specific moment in this dramatic journey. It is surprising to make a reconstruction on a small part, but it was the investigating judge who decided as that. I would have liked the reconstruction to be done on all the facts. My client hopes to be able to remember the events as precisely as possible”underlines Frank Discepoli, the lawyer of the driver of the drama.
In conclusion, the reconstruction of the carnival tragedy in Strépy-Bracquegnies has shed light on certain gray areas in the investigation, specifically regarding the speed of the car and visibility of the driver before the impact. It was a difficult moment for the victims’ families, who had to relive the tragedy, but they hope that this reconstruction will provide them with answers and justice. The driver of the car remains in prison, charged with the murder of one victim and manslaughter for the others. The investigation continues as the community tries to heal from this terrible event.
