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A year after Sven Pichal was arrested for images of child abuse, he will appear in court on Thursday. No substantive debate yet, but his lawyers will request a closed-door trial.
Sven Pichal will not normally arrive in person at the Antwerp courthouse on Thursday morning. His lawyers Walter Damen and Davina Simons will be present. This is an introductory hearing, not a trial on the merits. In concrete terms, Pichal’s lawyers will ask the court to have a trial behind closed doors, so without the presence of the public or press. The lawyers believe that their client’s fame has already attracted too much public attention. According to them, the social interest does not weigh in.
READ ALSO. RECONSTRUCTION. Sven Pichal locked himself up until late at night. And what he did on his computer became increasingly extreme
Child Focus, which has filed a civil suit, takes a different view and will undoubtedly oppose it. In parallel legal cases against Reuben DB and Benoît D., who were arrested almost simultaneously with Pichal, the court did not respond to a request for closed doors. The question is what the court will decide about the former VRT radio voice.
In addition, a date will be set on Thursday with all parties involved when the process can actually be pleaded.
Even babies
The whole affair came to light a year ago, on 27 August. At that time, Sven Pichal announced his resignation from the VRT. Investigation had revealed that Pichal, together with several other men, possessed and distributed images of sexual abuse of minors. This happened via the chat channel Bullchat. During the investigation, at least 131 photos and videos were found on Sven Pichal’s telephone and computer in which young children are being abused. Some of the images even involve babies.
Pichal’s lawyers made it clear from day one that their client clearly had a problem and needed treatment.
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