Suspect of murder in Diksmuide in narrow shoes due to gunpowder trail analysis
The Veurne department of the West Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office will not communicate about the results of the gunpowder trail analysis.
The facts took place on Sunday evening, July 17, along the IJzerdijk in Stuivekenskerke, a sub-municipality of Diksmuide. A 28-year-old man from Koekelare was found shot next to his motorcycle. The emergency services tried to resuscitate him, but for Ilir S. all help came too late. A total of twelve bullet casings were found on the ground. According to the prosecutor’s office, the victim was hit at least six times, mainly in the chest area.
The investigators quickly spotted S.’s father-in-law as a suspect. After all, the vehicle of Stephane V. was noticed nearby. During his first interrogation, the suspect immediately admitted that he was indeed present along the IJzerdijk. He even stated that he had argued with his son-in-law, with whom he did not get on well. The Nieuwpoortenaar, however, formally denies having anything to do with the murder. The defense noted that Ilir S. himself would have insisted that evening to meet.
From the start of the investigation, the defense pointed out the importance of the gunpowder trail analysis. However, the report of the NICC (National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology) has shown that gunpowder traces were found on the hands and in the car of the suspect. His lawyer Bram Elyn now wants to ask additional questions to the experts. For example, gunpowder marks were mainly found on his left hand, while V. is right-handed.
A recent re-examination by the police was difficult, so the fifty-year-old was not yet confronted with the new findings. He may be questioned again soon. His arrest was already extended by two months by the Veurn council chamber on Tuesday morning. The defense did not press for a conditional release this time.