Assizes: Life for Tom Debaillie

“It is certain that on the night of April 4 to 5, 2020 in Kortrijk, the accused killed Frans Debaillie, his father, by repeatedly inflicting heavy blows and kicks on the head and body:” these are the words of trial judge Francis Clarysse, after the jury found Tom Debaillie guilty of parricide.

“Hope for just punishment”

Debaillie, also known as Tom Spier and once world champion bodybuilding, lived with his father in his castle in Kortrijk. He terrorized the man and eventually beat him to death. “The verdict itself is not a surprise,” said civil party lawyer Anke Platteau. “He has not denied the guilt either. He has not disputed the parricide. Of course it remains to be seen what the punishment will be. The only solace they can get is a just punishment.”

Debaillie did insist that after that one punch, he blacked out on subsequent punches and punches. In his last words he expressed his regret for the horror. “They are undoubtedly sincere. I have known him for some time now,” says his lawyer Kris Vincke.

Lifetime

Killing your parents is tantamount to murder anyway, so Debaillie risks life in prison. That is also what the prosecutor is asking. According to the lawyer, the premeditation was not there. “That is clearly not the case here. I do have a number of arguments to try to convince the jury not to go to life imprisonment,” says Vincke.

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