2024-01-22 13:54:00
On October 17, 2018, at the Gilly crematorium and the Dampremy cemetery, Pascal and Andy carried out the last wishes of a worshiper of the 3rd Reich and Nazi racial ideology: guard of honor with Nazi salutes and songs by the 300 people present to say a final goodbye. Aurélien, judged by default, was also part of the lot. While the trio was to be sentenced in absentia on May 15, since they were absent during the first trial, the Charleroi criminal court decided to order the reopening of the proceedings. Via a letter, Andy had expressed his desire to come and explain his infamous attitude during this funeral.
At the end of last November, Pascal and Andy appeared before Carolo justice. Aurélien had once again decided not to travel. Prosecuted for approval of genocide and incitement to racial hatred, Pascal and Andy confirmed their participation in these strange funerals. The two friends claimed to have only committed the acts at the Dampremy cemetery and that “there was no question of inciting hatred.” Pascal clarified his point by evoking a role of “follower”. “Seeing as everyone was doing the gesture, so I did it. I didn’t want to be the only one not to do it.” Suspected of having organized the funeral, Andy swore he had not played this role.
The passage of time benefits the defendants
By becoming a civil party for a symbolic euro, the City of Charleroi wanted to remind everyone of its daily fight against this anti-Semitic behavior. The defendants have, according to the City’s lawyer, “marked their adherence to radical nationalism and approved of anti-Semitism, racism and the Shoah” by acting in this way. Unia, the independent public institution which fights against discrimination and defends equality in Belgium, was also a civil party to recall the dangerousness of the profiles of the defendants and the threat they represent in a democratic society.
As argued by the two defense lawyers, the exceeding of the reasonable time limit was held for the three defendants. Even judged in absentia, Aurélien obtains a simple declaration of guilt. If Pascal and Andy pleaded “stupidity” to explain their behavior, the justice system still retained in its judgment that the “Nazi salute is a notorious gesture known to all.”
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