Fifteen years for fatal blow to mother

De Bredenaar gave his mother Solange Hennaert (79) a fatal blow in 2016, after which he buried her body in the dunes. Her body was not found until three years later. The jury already ruled on Wednesday evening that there was no question of elder murder.

“No extenuating circumstances”

The Public Prosecution Service was of the opinion that the man intended to take his mother’s life, but the jury did not agree. “Of course I accept your judgment and I respect your choice,” she said at the start of her requisition. Céline D’havé explained that F. Pauwels faces twelve to fifteen years incarceration for intentional assault and battery resulting in accidental death.

In the facts themselves, the Attorney General does not see any mitigating circumstances. “It will come as no surprise to you that deliberately beating a demented mother in that circumstance with such severe, extreme, sheer force is a particularly grievous crime.” The accused wrapped his mother’s body in some blankets and a PMD bag. “And he went to dump her in a place he hoped no one would ever find.”

Ironed her pension money for years to come

It was not until nearly three years later that Solange Hennaert was found again on the instructions of F. Pauwels. “If someone asked where his mother was out of concern, he lied. Without shame, without scruples.” During that period, he also pushed back more than 43,000 euros in pension money from the victim. “I continue to think you are a shrewd and extremely cunning man, who has for a long time managed to evade his responsibility. You have played a true cat-and-mouse game and fooled us. It also makes me sincerely It hurts that he still doesn’t manage to speak well of his mother.”

F. Pauwels was convicted twice by the police court almost twenty years ago. Even with a clean criminal record, the jury does not have to take into account, according to the public prosecutor. “I think those convictions are serious. Because a perpetrator of a hit-and-run crime shows irresponsible and antisocial behavior with a manifest lack of civic sense.” In prison P. worked on himself, but there was also a caveat. “In the future, it cannot be ruled out that he will revert to his old habits of alcohol use and aggressiveness in full freedom.” On the other hand, D’havé thinks it is to the credit of the accused that he acknowledges those problems. “That insight is very important. Not only for yourself, but also for your daughter. Also for your family, for your mother’s family. But actually for the whole of society.”

Finally, it was noted that the Bredenaar can already be released under certain conditions within 18 months. “You can and you should not put everything on your mother. Your mother has always given you everything. And you have given her death. With this process you will get an incredibly great new opportunity. I hope you take that opportunity and that you continue to work on yourself in the coming years. I especially hope that you never touch a drop of alcohol again.” D’havé concluded by referring to a song by the recently deceased Arno. “Dans les yeux de ma mère, il ya toujours une lumière. Think about that.”