Assizes: “We knew a murder was going to happen”
Marc G. and his wife stated at the assize trial on Monday evening about the robbery murder that the T. family had been keen on the victim’s safe for some time.
The accused Melissa T. was considered a good worker in the butcher’s shop of the witnesses. Due to her mental disability, she often had to be helped and adjusted. “Sometimes you caught her in a lie. She was sometimes short-tempered and stubborn,” explained Cindy D., who especially had a strong opinion about Nico T., Melissa T.’s father. “Her dad was a very special figure “Large, heavy, fully tattooed. An imposing person who could shout out when something was wrong.”
New loan
Shortly before the facts, Nico T. (44) went to the butcher’s shop with a lot of noise. He apparently wanted to take out another loan in his daughter’s name, but could not find her last pay slip. “My son Louis immediately called the emergency services. He was very scared and said that they were going to kill his dad. That was really terrifying, Nico was shouting and ranting.” According to Marc G., T. even tried to get behind the counter to take a knife. “He literally told me I had to die.”
At work it was clear to everyone that Melissa T. suddenly had a very close bond with her neighbor Roland Roelens. “I think it was more about the safe than love, because she couldn’t keep quiet about it. We think it was all a bit of a setup. We knew in advance that a murder was going to happen there.” According to the witness, the T. family was after the victim’s money. “I already knew from Melissa that there was a lot of money in that safe. She also told me that at home and then the whole game started.”
Decided at the kitchen table
A day after the robbery, Nico T. called his daughter’s employer. “He said Melissa couldn’t come to work because the neighbor had been murdered,” explained Louis G. His parents became suspicious and then called the police. After the weekend, Melissa T. would have told the whole story. “Melissa said that they had decided everything at the table in the kitchen. Christelle V., herself, Nico T. and her brother. Christelle was well aware of what was going to happen,” Marc G. emphasized.
Melissa T.’s defense argued that the witnesses did make positive statements during the investigation. Then they also stated that the young woman looked up to her father, while during the trial they stated that he was her God. Master Robbie Dewaele referred, among other things, to a letter that Marc G. wrote. “You suggested to me to do that, because she would be released faster. You said what should be included,” the witness bounced the ball back.
This morning the court psychiatrists will speak.