85-year-old man who shot woman dead: “I didn’t want this”
He and his lawyer hope for a reconstruction soon. The basis of the drama is most likely the divorce that the woman wanted.
They were together for 37 years, but the wife of the elderly man from Roeselare wanted to end their relationship. Sunday morning the man wanted to talk about the difficulties. Stijn Braeye, lawyer for the elderly man: “There have been a lot of discussions in the family lately and people don’t just discuss.”
Because his 75-year-old wife wouldn’t talk anymore, he reached for his shotgun. She tried to take the weapon from his hands and it went off a number of times, also fatally hitting her. The 85-year-old man then tried to take his own life, but the weapon no longer worked. He has been in Bruges prison ever since. “I visited my client this morning in Bruges prison. He is staying in the regular ward. That is obviously not an ideal place for someone his age. The man is also very emotional. He keeps telling me that he doesn’t want any of that I think he is also in a grieving process. Then why did he point that gun at his wife? We have to wait for the reconstruction to take place. We all hope that it can take place as soon as possible, while everything is still fresh in the memory. He will also be fully involved in this.”
Before the council chamber tomorrow, the man and his lawyer will not oppose a further arrest because many things are still unclear. Those who have dark thoughts themselves can always contact the Suicide Line 1813 or at suicideline.be.