Justice in Charleroi: defendant acquitted in alleged rape case
Magistrates in Charleroi have pronounced the acquittal of a man accused of sexually assaulting his former partner during an evening in October 2022.
Justice in Charleroi: defendant acquitted in alleged rape case
In October 2022, a young woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend following an evening out. The alleged facts took place near Charleroi-Central railway station, in the suspect's vehicle. The victim's brother alerted law enforcement.
The complainant and the accused maintained intimate relations during informal meetings referred to as "parking bouteille" gatherings. According to her, her former partner struck her and then forced her to engage in a non-consensual sexual act in his car parked behind the station. Marks were observed on her body. Her defence emphasised that she was not motivated by any desire for revenge, referring to a complicated love story.
For his part, the defendant categorically denied the allegations. He claimed that a sexual encounter had indeed begun, but that his companion's drunken state had interrupted proceedings. He explained that he had restrained her to prevent her from leaving the car naked and falling. He rejected any responsibility for the injuries observed.
The prosecution itself raised questions about the credibility of certain pieces of evidence. The substitute notably pointed to SMS exchanges and transfers of one euro made by the victim to the suspect after the alleged facts, with the aim of re-establishing contact.
On the requisition of the public prosecutor's office, the judges ultimately pronounced the defendant's acquittal.
Source: DHnet
Source: DHnet