The acts alleged against the accused took place on Saturday July 22, 2017 shortly after 11 p.m. in Wanze. Éric Wilkin, a 43-year-old resident of Saint-Georges, was hit by the car driven by Gaëtan Vanwyngaerden after a chase. The victim had a limb torn off and died from his injuries. The scene had its origins in a romantic rivalry between the accused and another young man, who coveted his partner. A meeting had been organized on the town square of Wanze between the protagonists, but Gaëtan Vanwyngaerden’s love rival had become frightened and had taken refuge inside a café, after having been insulted by the accused and certain members of his entourage. Éric Wilkin, a customer at the Antidote café, tried to help the young man, as well as to ease tensions. He then tried to discreetly extract the young man from the café to take him home, but his behavior was surprised by Gaëtan Vanwyngaerden and members of his family.
The victim’s van was then chased on the road going from the center of Wanze towards the motorway towards Couthuin. After a turn, the van was stopped. Éric Wilkin allegedly got out of his vehicle armed with a knife, before being hit by the car driven by Gaëtan Vanwyngaerden. The collision then led to the victim’s death from his injuries.
The circumstances of the death and the intentions which animated the various protagonists of the scene will be at the center of the debates of the assize court chaired by Philippe Gorlé. The substitute Fabienne Bernard will sit in the post of public prosecutor. Gaëtan Vanwyngaerden is accused of murder and malicious obstruction of traffic. He is defended by Me Pierre Lothe and Me Gilles Gruslin. The interests of the civil parties will be defended by Me Adrien Carlozzi, Me Karim Daoud, Me Philippe Thirion and Me Naima Mokkedem. The trial is expected to last eight days. The proceedings on the merits will begin Monday at 9 a.m. with the reading of the indictment.
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