Ullens trial in Nivelles: Baroness's family refutes portrait drawn by defence
The trial of Nicolas Ullens, accused of murdering his mother-in-law Baroness Myriam Ullens-Lechien in March 2023, opened this Thursday in Nivelles.
The family of Baroness Ullens-Lechien speaks before the Nivelles trial
The trial of Nicolas Ullens opened Thursday morning at the Nivelles court in Brabant wallon. The defendant is being prosecuted for the murder of his mother-in-law, Baroness Myriam Ullens-Lechien, who was shot six times outside her home in Ohain, Lasne, on 29 March 2023. According to lavenir.net, the victim's children, Virginie and Gilles, gathered in Nivelles to face, over two weeks, the gaze of the accused.
Virginie, Myriam's daughter, now resides in the United States. Her brother Gilles is based in Paris. Accompanied by their spouses, they are present to follow the proceedings.
"She was executed"
Their lawyer, Maître Laurent Kennes, spoke before the jury was constituted. "The children expect this trial to establish the facts as they occurred and for the truth to be told," he declared. "They are convinced that this is indeed a murder."
Beyond their grief, a fresh wound opened as the proceedings progressed. Maître Kennes denounces the defendant's statements about the victim. "Not only did he kill their mother, but he is defaming her in his statements. He is trying to justify his act by speaking ill of her."
The defence strategy is also apparent in the choice of witnesses, according to the lawyer. "Nicolas Ullens said an enormous amount of things about her. His sister, too, did not fail to say particularly unpleasant things, to blacken the portrait of Myriam Lechien."
The civil party firmly contests these assertions. "Some of these things prove to be false. This will be stated during the trial," assures Maître Kennes, without revealing their substance.
Inheritance and philanthropy: the couple's financial choices defended
Part of the case concerns the management of the assets of Guy Ullens, the victim's husband. Nicolas Ullens's defence appears to see harmful influence by Myriam Lechien over her spouse in this. Maître Kennes is categorically opposed to this.
"He was a businessman, he was not a victim. He knew what he was doing with his money. He was not influenced." The lawyer recalls that Guy Ullens managed his finances throughout his life, "always took risks, made a lot of money and lost a lot of money."
Part of this wealth funded projects the couple believed in. Maître Kennes cites notably philanthropic commitments: a foundation against cancer, a school project in Nepal, and the creation of a contemporary art museum in Beijing. "He spent his own money on a passion that was his own."
As for Maison Ullens, the clothing brand that Myriam had taken the lead of, the lawyer refutes the idea of a project imposed by the wife. "He was able to create the Ullens brand and he put her in charge of this project which fell through. They did it together."
These projects were certainly not all profitable, Maître Kennes acknowledges, but they cannot be judged solely by financial returns. "These are beautiful projects. They did not bring in much money, but they did good for many people."
A trial that must not become a trial of the victim
Maître Kennes concedes that relations between mother-in-law and in-laws are not always simple. But he vigorously contests the portrait drawn of Myriam Ullens-Lechien by the defence.
"What Nicolas Ullens blames his father for, as he cannot say everything since there was a filial relationship, he says it is his mother-in-law's fault. But he does not describe a scene where she would have done something."
The lawyer poses the question directly: "Who spoke ill of her and who really knew her? Those who speak ill are people who never saw her."
The civil party fears the defendant's statement during the proceedings. "Do we continue the revenge to prolong the murder committed or are we in a more dignified defence?", says Maître Kennes. "I am afraid my clients will be hurt by unnecessary and inaccurate remarks, that we will add to their suffering."
The lawyer also fears that the trial of Nicolas Ullens will turn into a trial of his victim. "This is what some have already done in the press," he observes.
He finally poses the fundamental question. "What excuses or justifies killing someone who asked nothing of anyone? As far as I know, she committed no offence, stole from no one, struck no one."
His conclusion is straightforward: "She was executed. There are no other words."
Jury constituted, proceedings opened
The mixed jury was constituted before the opening of the proceedings. The hearings are to continue for two weeks at the courthouse in Nivelles. Nicolas Ullens is standing trial for the murder of Baroness Myriam Ullens-Lechien, who was killed by six bullets outside her home in Ohain on 29 March 2023.
Source: Google News BE FR