The events took place in the courtyard of Arlon prison where all the defendants were serving significant sentences. All have solid criminal records, one even being convicted of terrorism. They must answer for a punitive expedition committed on June 18, 2022 against a detainee with a serious criminal record. Surveillance cameras filmed the entire scene. Therefore, none of the accused has the slightest possibility of denying the materiality of the facts. Armed with socks filled with blunt objects like can lids or razor blades, they thrashed their prey.
The litigants downplayed the role of their clients while deploring a botched investigation. The lawyers believe that the rights of the defense are not respected because they did not have access to the camera images and believe that the trial comes too late, citing the exceeding of the reasonable time limit.
Handcuffed, they kiss each other in court
The defendants, who, following the fight, were all scattered in different prisons, arrived at court, hugging each other, visibly happy to see each other again.
Everyone gave their explanation for the reasons for the caning. “There was a rivalry for power in the prison, says one. The person targeted was seeking to overthrow established things.” “In prison, there is a fridge where everyone can store their canteen, complains another. The person targeted was helping himself to what did not belong to him.”
“He attacked me in the showers,” declares one. “He wanted to compete with those who were bringing drugs into the prison and undermine their business,” assures the other. “He made comments that were insulting to our community.”
The defense lawyers also insisted on the tensions which are commonplace in the prison environment. They believe that this affair does not deserve the importance that we want to give it. They all pleaded for acquittals, or, alternatively, lenient suspended sentences.
Weapons made in cells
The public prosecutor does not have the same interpretation of the file: “Organizing as they did, with homemade weapons manufactured in their cells, justifies their being tried for premeditated assault and battery.”
She requested prison sentences of between 3 and 12 months of additional imprisonment and fines ranging from €240 to €800 depending on the involvement of each participant.
