behind the quintuple murder near Dunkirk, professional resentment and gray areas

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS – Forty-eight hours after the quintuple murder that occurred on Saturday December 14 in the vicinity of Dunkirk, the trail of professional revenge begins to take shape. The 22-year-old suspect went to the gendarmerie in Ghyvelde, a small town in the Nord department located on the border with Belgium, on the same day of the murders. He is still in police custody there this Monday, December 16.

His lawyer, Véronique Planckeel, emphasizes that her client “spontaneously recognized the facts and is very composed, very calm”. However, she is not “not sure if this boy really understands the consequences of his actions” nor that he “knows what to answer himself” to investigators.

• The first victim, his former employer

The suspect had resentment towards his first victim, Paul Dekeister, who was his former employer, according to Master Planckeel. This 29-year-old man, who managed a road transport company, was killed around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday in Wormhout in front of his home by several gunshots.

“We do not know how the employment contract was terminated”declared to AFP the lawyer, for whom “many gray areas remain” as to the motivations of his client. According to a source close to the matter, revenge after a professional dispute is one of the preferred avenues.

“There is nothing to understand”reacted for his part the uncle of Paul Dekeister in the columns of Parisian this Monday. “My nephew had hired this gangster as a seasonal driver. In the summer, Paul needed more drivers. I understand that he gave him a three-month seasonal contract and that he parted company with it afterwards. Where is the problem? Who kills for that? »he asks himself now.

• The next two victims, security agents

The alleged killer was also an employee of the company Eamus Cork Security (ECS) for which his next two victims, two security agents, worked, Patrick Guerbette, founder of the company in question, indicated during a press briefing.

He carried out “a period of training and professionalization contract (…) more than a year and a half ago” during which he was not the target of“no complaints”specified the business manager. According to him, the alleged killer had not then ” no way “ been in contact with the two targeted agents.

These two fathers in their thirties, Marc and Aurélien, were killed around 4 p.m. in the port area of ​​Loon-Plage, on the outskirts of Dunkirk. They were on a surveillance mission aboard a company vehicle, added Bruno Willems, CEO of ECS, during the press briefing.

For Patrick Guerbette, “Anyone who was there, at that time on the road, could have been a victim. » According to the suspect’s lawyer, on the two security agents, “he knew one by sight, it seems, that’s all”.

• The last two victims, two migrants

According to Master Planckeel, there is currently no “no explanation” to the murder that occurred a few minutes later and five kilometers away of two migrants, who were near a makeshift camp. The two men “could be of Iranian nationality (…) aged 19 and 30”Dunkirk prosecutor Charlotte Huet said in a statement on Sunday. The source close to the case reports that they were targeted by chance.

“Many people” on the camp “asked us for protection, accommodation”indicated Célestin Pichaud, coordinator of the Utopia 56 association, which helps exiles. “Fear, stress and insecurity are at their maximum”he warned.

The suspect “is unknown to the police and the judicial authorities” et “several firearms were found in his car”Charlotte Huet further clarified on Sunday. The investigation was opened to “murders preceded, accompanied or followed by another crime” et “acquisition, possession, carrying and transport of category A and B weapons”acts punishable by life imprisonment. His custody can now last “until 96 hours, i.e. until Wednesday”said the prosecutor in her press release.

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