On October 11, 2021 in Namur, Ethan, 15, was beaten by 5 people, 3 young adults, and 2 minors. His wrong? Having established a relationship with a young Belgian of Chechen origin from his school. Ethan had already been warned a week before. “He had been told that he might not establish a relationship with a Chechen, that it does not happen.”, indicates Me Gravy, counsel for Ethan’s parents, who are civil parties. They claim 1500 euros on a provisional basis and the realization of an expertise, their son suffering from an incapacity of more than 4 months.
That day, shortly before 4 p.m., Ethan was accosted near Namur station. The one who led the dance, a Belgian of Chechen origin, explains: “We met by chance. Relationships like that, it does not happen at home. I asked him for his phone to check his exchanges with the little girl. sister of a friend. I didn’t like the conversation. We then went to the citadel. I didn’t like their exchanges and I lost my temper.”
The defendant denies that the victim was beaten for an hour by 5 people practicing boxing and MMA. Ethan, following being forced to apologize on his knees, reportedly received around 50 blows all over his body, mostly in the face. A terrible scene, which was filmed and broadcast on social networks, before being erased. Hospitalized, Ethan might no longer open his mouth or his eyes, his face was distorted by the blows received. As the beating was coming to an end, the main perpetrator allegedly told him this, which he now refutes: “You will be the example, tell the others that if they touch a Chechen, they will be punished. same thing or worse.”
The council of the civil parties speaks of an “honor crime”. “Ethan is lucky to be with us today, he might have lost his life that day.”
The substitute Vandermeiren evokes a revolting act committed for cultural issues, “due to hatred and contempt for non-Chechens” and requires sentences of 10, 8 and 7 years once morest the 3 protagonists. A second defendant admits having been present, but claims to have wanted to separate the main perpetrator and the victim, he says he regrets not having ended the scene. The last defendant claims to have arrived on the spot only following the scene of beatings.
Counsel for the first defendant, once morest whom 10 years are required, requests an acquittal for the prevention of extortion and pleads a sentence of independent probation for that of assault and battery. The lawyer for the second, once morest whom the prosecution requires 7 years in prison, requests acquittal for the two charges. 8 years are required once morest the last speaker, his lawyer pleads a sentence accompanied by a suspended sentence for what exceeds the preventive detention already carried out.
Judgment September 5.
