Taxi driver assailant escapes custodial sentence through probationary suspension
Lucas, already convicted in 2019 for similar offences, received a five-year probationary suspension for two armed robberies of taxi drivers in Charleroi.
Taxi driver assailant escapes custodial sentence through probationary suspension
In the early hours of 16 March, a taxi driver picked up a passenger in Marcinelle at around 3 a.m. The passenger, seated in the back seat, waited until the end of the journey on Rue de Brabant in Charleroi before launching an attack. He seized the driver's left arm, pushed him against his seat, then placed a blade under his throat to demand the contents of the cash box. The amount stolen came to 120 euros. Before fleeing, the assailant said "sorry brother" to his victim, as recalled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Rooselaer during the hearing.
The following day, a second robbery of a similar nature took place. The second taxi driver had been warned that a suspect was operating the previous evening. As soon as the passenger got into his vehicle, the driver noticed suspicious behaviour. The Charleroi police eventually arrested Lucas.
During his interrogation, the man admitted to the facts. He explained that he had committed the acts "to obtain easy money, to pay for medication for his partner who is seriously ill".
The defendant is not facing charges of this type for the first time. In July 2019, he had already been convicted of similar offences. Despite his history of reoffending, his lawyer obtained a measure of leniency. The court imposed a five-year probationary suspension. If the conditions are not respected during this probationary period, Lucas will have to serve thirty months in custody.
Source: DHnet
Source: DHnet