Acquittal sought for octogenarian accused of incestuous rape of nieces
The Brussels public prosecutor has sought the acquittal of an 82-year-old man accused of incestuous rape of two nieces, citing insufficient evidence. One of the victims recovered her memory through hypnosis.
Acquittal sought for octogenarian accused of incestuous rape of nieces
The Brussels public prosecutor's office requested on Thursday the acquittal of a 82-year-old defendant prosecuted for sexual assault against two of his nieces. The alleged acts are said to have taken place over more than ten years, during family gatherings between Belgium and France.
The two complainants, identified by the pseudonyms Margot and Virginie, claim they were abused from a young age. They describe touching incidents that occurred in cellars, in car parks or in isolated rooms. For one of them, the memory of these assaults returned during hypnosis sessions. The other resorted to other therapeutic approaches, notably sandtray therapy and automatic writing.
During proceedings, the prosecutor's representative stressed the absence of material evidence corroborating the victims' account. No direct witnesses could be heard, and the complainants failed to identify other family members who were harmed, although they claim such victims exist. Certain descriptions of the incidents also appeared lacking in credibility to the magistrate.
The defence, led by Maître Thierry Moreau, highlighted the risks associated with the memory recovery techniques used. According to him, hypnosis can induce false memories through suggestive questions posed by the therapist. He also contested the plausibility of certain scenarios, notably the notion that a child of two or three years old could have ingested alcohol or drugs without arousing the suspicions of their parents.
"The suffering of a victim does not constitute proof of guilt, and a criminal hearing cannot substitute for therapy," the lawyer stated in arguing for acquittal. In the event of conviction, the prosecutor mentioned a five-year sentence with a suspended portion.
Source: DHnet
Source: DHnet