A violent, alcoholic partner escapes custodial sentence through probationary suspended sentence
A man from Charleroi convicted of threatening to kill and headbutting his partner escapes a custodial sentence. The court has given him one year suspended with five years' probation, on condition he receives treatment for his alcoholism.
A violent, alcoholic partner escapes custodial sentence through probationary suspended sentence
The Charleroi court has handed down a lenient ruling against a man found guilty of domestic violence. The Charleroi tribunal imposed a sentence of one year in prison, entirely suspended subject to a probationary period extending over five years.
The case began on 6 April in Momignies, where the victim had fled to a neighbour's house after receiving death threats from her partner. The latter, consumed by jealousy, had made threats to slit his partner's throat as well as that of a potential lover in the event of infidelity. The young woman had seized this opportunity to report to police the assaults she had suffered twenty-four hours earlier.
The day before, the defendant had already dealt his partner a brutal headbutt during an argument motivated by jealousy. He had also damaged various objects in the family home. At his hearing, the defendant did not contest the charges against him, attributing his actions to his excessive alcohol consumption. He admitted to drinking eight to ten beers daily.
The public prosecutor had pleaded for a conviction with a suspended sentence, a position which the defence lawyer had also supported. The magistrate ultimately granted these requests. The convicted man must now comply with several strict obligations during his probationary period, notably receiving therapeutic treatment for his alcohol addiction.
This sentence offers the individual an opportunity to prove his determination to change his behaviour, whilst ensuring close monitoring of his future conduct.
Source: DHNET
Source: DHnet