Subordinate asked the defense to ask two preliminary questions to the Constitutional Court. It was noted that a defendant in the police court and the criminal court can still request a language change at the hearing on the merits, while this is not legally provided for in the West Flemish court of assizes. The defense believes that the principle of equality is also violated for a second reason. In the Brussels court of assizes, a language change is still possible during the first hearing by the chairman.
Attorney General Eva Brantegem responded that the defense’s request simply comes too late. The civil parties also oppose a referral to a French-speaking court of assizes. “It is also the case that the accused maintains from the outset that he had to legally defend himself. In fact, he asks for an acquittal and blames the victim. In that respect, as a lawyer, I find it surprising that he has opted today to request a language change, because that would mean another two-year delay,” said the lawyer of the victim’s mother, Julie Vandenbogaerde.