Antwerp hooligans severely punished for brawl: “Unsettling how easily they use excessive violence.” | Antwerp
AntwerpThe Antwerp criminal court has sentenced five hooligans of the Antwerp football club for attacking the staff and customers of a café in the Antwerp city center two years ago. They were sentenced to 15 to 22 months in prison, expect a fine of 800 euros.
A group of Antwerp hooligans was drawn to the Antwerp city center on October 16, 2020 for a confrontation with another group of hooligans. However, he did not show up, much to the great fraud of the Antwerp hooligans. They then looked for another outlet for their aggression and found it at café Het Elfde Gebod. The incident was captured on camera images, which were analyzed by the police football cell.
The images showed how Costa VT passed the cafe and involved a terrace chair in the air. A member of staff who pursued him was immediately surrounded by Redouan A., Lenny V. and Costa VT, who dealt him several punches. Two customers who wanted to intervene shared in the blows. Bret vD also joined the fight. As they left the terrace, Nino DM knocked another easy passerby to the ground.
Defending
The defense of Redouan A., Nino DM and Costa VT did not lead to the facts and pleaded for community service. Bret vD and Lenny V. denied that they partly substantiated the group and that they could be seen on the camera images. “A victim recognized my client in a man with a hat and mouth mask. But how can he be so sure if only the eyes were visible?” Lenny V.’s lawyer wondered.
The defense of Bret vD questions the recognition by the football cell. “On the basis of which elements did they solve my client? Because those images are too vague for anyone to discover.”
The court disagreed: the surveillance images were of high quality and required final recognition. The football cell had recognized Lenny V. and Bret vD on the basis of their stature, external characteristics, behavior and posture. Lenny V.’s mouth mask had also fallen below his nose at a certain point, so that a large part of his face was visible on the images. He was also recognized in photo by a victim.
being
The facts were declared reported. “Defendants used excessive force against defenseless victims. The convenience and certainty that comes with it is very worrying,” the court ruled. Redouan A., Nino DM and Lenny V. are valid up to 15 months in prison. Bret vD received eighteen months and Costa VT twenty months, plus two months for illegal possession of weapons. He had taken a pull-out matrak to the courthouse and was caught with it during the access control.
Three victims who filed a civil suit and received a total of more than 6,000 euros from divorcees.
“Defendants used excessive force against defenseless victims. The convenience and certainty that comes with it is very worrying,” the court ruled. Redouan A., Nino DM and Lenny V. are valid up to 15 months in prison. Bret vD received eighteen months and Costa VT twenty months, plus two months for illegal possession of weapons. He had taken a pull-out matrak to the courthouse and was caught with it during the access control.
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