Jury selected in Mons to determine sentence for Marcel Pillod, Charleroi murderer
Marcel Pillod, convicted of the murder of Albert Baise in Charleroi, is appearing in trial solely for the determination of his sentence. A jury of twelve people was drawn at random in Mons.
Second trial for Marcel Pillod: sentencing at the heart of proceedings
Twelve jurors — six men and six women — were designated on Thursday afternoon at the courts of justice in Mons to determine the sentence for Marcel Pillod. Two alternates, one man and one woman, were also drawn at random. As reported by DHnet, this new trial concerns exclusively the penalty to be imposed on the convicted man, whose guilt was already established at a previous hearing in January.
Marcel Pillod had fled after being found guilty of the murder of Albert Baise, a 74-year-old neighbour. Arrested in France, he subsequently lodged an appeal against the sentence of life imprisonment pronounced in absentia.
A body in a suitcase on the Charleroi-Brussels canal
On 17 May 2017, the body of the septuagenarian was found in a suitcase floating on the Charleroi-Brussels canal, at the level of the Viesville lock, at Pont-à-Celles. Analysis of the victim's pacemaker had made it possible to date the death to 26 April of the same year, at 15:57. The forensic pathologist had noted bruises on the face as well as a sudden acceleration of the heart rate in the moments preceding death.
Investigators had quickly traced the suitcase to a shop in Charleroi. The object had been purchased on the morning of 26 April by Marcel Pillod, who had paid in cash. The sexagenarian had come into the sights of investigators after withdrawing funds belonging to the victim and transferring them to his own account. He had furthermore contacted the police and several hospitals, stating that he was worried about his friend's absence.
Two days of hearing under the presidency of Martine Baes
The trial, presided over by judge Martine Baes, will take place over two days. Marcel Pillod is now being defended by Isabelle Vander Eyden, a barrister at the Charleroi bar. The prosecution is represented by the first deputy prosecutor general, Gilles Dupuis.
Whilst Pillod's guilt is now established, the proceedings will concern exclusively the nature and severity of the sentence to be pronounced against him.
Source: DHnet