Following the discovery this week of the lifeless body of Laura Trappeniers, the competent Belgian authorities took the decision to federalize the file this Friday, we learn this Saturday.
Very concretely, this means that the federal prosecutor’s office, in agreement with the Spanish authorities, will be able to supervise the ongoing investigation. Direct collaboration which could, for example, allow Belgium to suggest investigative duties or even the sending of investigators on site.
“From the moment it appeared that it was indeed a homicide, a potentially violent death in any case, we activated this article 12, the case is taken over by the federal prosecutor’s office with all means which he has and in particular excellent international connections”, informs us Eric Van Duyse, the spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office. “In the field of the investigation, we sent, late yesterday afternoon, a first request to the Spanish judicial authorities. It is a proposal for assistance and support to the Spanish authorities in their investigation”, completes -he.
This decision is welcomed very favorably by those close to the couple. “It is an advantage for the families because they have the certainty that there is a Belgian judicial eye, a Belgian legal guarantor who will attend this investigation and therefore that there will be an intermediary in Belgium. families, it’s rather reassuring”, explains the spokesperson
The Spanish press announced last Saturday the discovery of the body of a woman recovered from the water with a plastic bag over her head. This Wednesday, the country’s authorities affirmed that Laura Trappeniers had been located. At the start of the evening, we learned, according to an RTL info Source, that the two cases are linked. It is indeed the lifeless body of the sixty-year-old, originally from Anderlecht. Relatives were notified of the discovery of the body and the identification. Her husband is still missing.
According to Spanish media, some extremities of the body are missing and the 66-year-old woman was found with a plastic bag over her head.
The house of Laura Trappeniers and Marc Olbrechts has been under judicial seal since last Sunday. However, our research allowed us to discover that a second adjoining house is also inaccessible by court decision. This villa also belongs to the couple. They are renting it out on a short-term basis and we can see the paintings of Marc, in particular, who is a painter.
According to RTL info, this Monday April 22, the day of the disappearance, a Belgian man, probably from Eastern countries, took possession of the premises. Laura reportedly told one of her friends that she was worried and that she hoped she would not find the house empty. It was the last time she gave any sign of life.
As for the famous tenant, he was not seen by any neighbors. For the relatives we contacted, the issue is serious and it must be investigated. The latter also want Belgium to actively participate in the judicial investigation, which for the moment is not the case.
