Marian Salabin has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Ghent Court of Appeal for the death of Yunus Calik in Aalst in 2021.
The 36-year-old man kicked the victim, Yunus Calik, in the face during a street altercation. Calik fell backward, hitting his head, and died in hospital four days later.
The incident occurred on the night of 19 to 20 November 2021. At around 01:45, two young girls alerted the police to an unconscious man on the ground.
Calik was rushed to a hospital in Aalst and later transferred to UZ Brussel, where he died on 24 November. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was severe head and brain trauma.
Several witnesses confirmed Yunus Calik was kicked in the head after a brief altercation with a group of men. Marian Salabin was identified as the main suspect based on witness statements, surveillance footage, and social media investigations.
He was arrested in France on 13 January 2022. Extradited to Belgium in March, Salabin initially denied the allegations, claiming a friend had struck Yunus Calik. He later confessed to delivering a taekwondo kick that knocked the victim backwards.
The public prosecutor had requested a 27-year sentence. The defence hoped for nine years, arguing it was voluntary assault without intent to kill.
The court acknowledged mitigating factors, including Salabin’s young age at the time of the crime and his roles as a good father and son.
The court also considered the delay in his extradition from France, noting the reasonable time for trial had been exceeded. The verdict described Salabin’s actions as a "senseless act of violence" following a "trivial discussion," during which he "abandoned the victim to his fate."
Salabin has served three years in pre-trial detention and is eligible to apply for provisional release in two years.
