- Title: 'I am serene,' Brussels attacks victim says as trial kicks off
- Date: 12th September 2022
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) BRUSSELS ATTACK VICTIM PHILIPPE VANDENBERGHE SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) BRUSSELS ATTACK VICTIM, PHILIPPE VANDENBERGHE, SAYING: "I'm confident. I just want to have an idea of the schedule for the next testimonials since this is the topic of the day. That's all, so for now, I'm serene. I'm looking forward to them." LAWYERS ARRIVING FOR TRIAL LAWYER FOR A GROUP OF VICTIMS, ANTHONY MALLEGO, LISTENING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) LAWYER FOR A GROUP OF VICTIMS, ANTHONY MALLEGO, SAYING: "What my client is most worried about is to get justice done after six years and to be compensated, which is fair and correct. That's what he's most worried about." MALLEGO WALKING AWAY POLICE OUTSIDE COURTROOM LAWYER FOR A GROUP OF 260 VICTIMS AND VICTIMS SUPPORT GROUP 'LIFE4 BRUSSELS', ALINE FERY SPEAKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR A GROUP OF 260 VICTIMS AND VICTIMS SUPPORT GROUP 'LIFE4 BRUSSELS', ALINE FERY, SAYING: "We will have discussions on the agenda set by the court. What the victims expect is obviously to understand how we got here, what happened on that day. (They) hope the accused will speak up and explain what happened. (They) hope that the debate will take place in a serene manner. It is really the will of the victims." FERY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR A GROUP OF 260 VICTIMS AND VICTIMS SUPPORT GROUP 'LIFE4 BRUSSELS', ALINE FERY, SAYING: "In the aftermath of (the) March 22, 2016 (attack), with regard to compensation, there was a real legal battle that began at the level of the commission for assistance to victims of acts of violence. The battle continues on the level of compensation. Many, hundreds of requests, have been made. These requests are still pending so they were victims of the attacks and then they became victims of this abandonment which they really experienced as an abandonment of the state. Our goal is really to restore (the victims) in this quality of victim and to be able to assist them in this process at each stage." POLICEMEN ON DUTY LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT HERVE BAYINGANA, VINCENT LURQUIN, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT HERVE BAYINGANA, VINCENT LURQUIN, SAYING: "My client and others have decided not to be silent but to explain things, to answer the legitimate questions of the victims. We are therefore waiting for the debate to start, with respect for the suffering of the victims, and also for it to allow our clients to speak and answer these questions. For the moment, they are in booths. They are in cages and it is not possible to have a real debate." LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT SMAIL FARISI, SEBASTIEN COURTOY SPEAKING TO REPORTERS 21 . (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) LAWYER OF DEFENDANT SMAIL FARISI, SEBASTIEN COURTOY, SAYING: "Is this a courthouse or the Antwerp zoo? That's my point. Everyone who sees them (the defendants sitting in glass booths), will say that they are guilty and should remain in the booths. My client was acquitted for the Paris attacks and he was released for the Brussels attacks six years ago. OK? This means that he's probably innocent and now they want to exhibit him like an animal in a cage. I am here to plead a case in court, I am not in the Antwerp zoo with my kids." LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT IBRAHIM FARISI, XAVIER CARRETTE, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT IBRAHIM FARISI, XAVIER CARRETTE, SAYING: "They should not have people appear before a correctional court – in this case, a criminal court – in a situation of detention. These booths are inhuman." LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT IBRAHIM ABRINI, EDOUARD HUYSMANS, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAWYER FOR DEFENDANT IBRAHIM ABRINI, EDOUARD HUYSMANS, SAYING ABOUT THE START OF THE TRIAL: "I think that's a great thing. Everyone has been waiting for it for a long time. I think it's as important for the defendants as it is for the prosecution and the victims. It was a trial that had to be held. We are finally going to get to the heart of the matter. Now, for Ibrahim Farisi, as I said to your colleagues, it's even more complex because he feels he has no connection with all the people present here." JOURNALISTS STANDING OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM
- Embargoed: 26th September 2022 10:32
- Keywords: Abdeslam Abrini Belgium Bombing Brussels Brussels Attacks Court Courtroom Explosion Judge Lawyer Maelbeek Metro Start Subway Trial Victim Zaventem
- Location: Brussels, BELGIUM
- City: Brussels, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Europe,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA005464312092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT 4552-BELGIUM-SECURITY/TRIAL-FILE CONTAINS FILE MATERIAL ABOUT THE 2016 BRUSSELS ATTACKS
The trial of 10 men accused of participating in the 2016 Brussels bombings that killed 32 people began on Monday (September 12) with defence lawyers arguing their clients should not be put in glass boxes like caged animals.
Monday's trial launch in the former headquarters of NATO in a Brussels suburb focused on procedural matters ahead of proceedings due to begin in October into the Islamist bombings at Brussels airport and on the city's metro in March 2016.
The special court for one of Belgium's largest trials features a series of individual glass compartments into which nine accused were placed on Monday.
"Is this a palace of justice or the Antwerp zoo? That's my point. Everyone who sees them will say that they are guilty and that they should stay in the boxes," said Sebastien Courtois, the lawyer for one of the accused, Smail Farisi.
President judge Laurence Massart heard arguments on the topic on Monday.
The jury trial includes six men already convicted in June by a French court for their involvement in the 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.
They include Mohamed Abrini, who prosecutors say went to Brussels Airport in March 2016 with two suicide bombers but fled without detonating his suitcase of explosives, and Osama Krayem, a Swedish national accused of planning to be a second bomber on Brussels' metro.
Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the French trial, is also among the accused, along with others prosecutors say hosted certain attackers. One accused is presumed killed in Syria.
Massart asked the defendants to confirm their ages and previous addresses before most then returned to their cells.
Lawyers for victims of the attacks, including some 340 people injured, expressed hope the trial would settle issues of compensation and answer many questions.
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