Aggressive man who pushed inspector under, on trial for attempted manslaughter

The police of the Blankenberge/Zuienkerke zone will be called up on September 2, 2021 for problems in a summer bar. A mobster causes further nuisance a little further on. When the police want to arrest him during that fight, Jonathan M. takes a recalcitrant attitude. One of the police officers sustains a concussion from an elbow strike.

“No Attempted Manslaughter”

The defendant is able to flee and jumps into a ditch. M. doesn’t want to get out and threatens to drown himself. To prevent this, a police inspector also jumps into the canal, but is pushed under the water by the defendant with his head. Finally, a second inspector has to jump into the water to overpower the man.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the defendant has clearly derailed in recent years. He has already received convictions for drug offences, corona infringements and assault. In those circumstances, prosecutor Yves Segaert-Vanden Bussche demands a strict effective punishment. The defense argues that there is no question of attempted murder.

Difficult youth

Jonathan M. did indeed end up briefly on the inspector during the skirmish, but he said he had absolutely no intention of taking his life. In addition, Master Thomas Gillis also points to the difficult childhood of his client. The lawyer asks for a sentence with a postponement of probation. The defense proposes, among other things, to impose a total alcohol and drug ban on him.

The court will rule on April 11.