The trial of the 22 March 2016 terror attacks, adjourned on 25 July after the guilty verdict, resumed on Monday morning for the closing arguments.
The terror attacks trial began at the Justitia in Haren last December and at the end of July, eight of the ten defendants in the Brussels terror attacks trial were found guilty of participating in the activities of a terror group on 22 March 2016.
These attacks involved a series of bombings at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and at the Maelbeek metro station that killed 35 people and left more than 300 people severely injured.
Six of the eight men – Osama Atar (presumed dead), Mohamed Abrini, Osama Krayem, Salah Abdeslam, Ali El Haddad Asufi and Bilal El Makhoukhi – were found guilty of murder, attempted murder and membership of a terrorist group. The remaining two – Sofien Ayari and Hervé Bayingana Muhirwa – were charged solely with membership of a terrorist group.
After a break of just over a month following the guilty verdict, the trial resumed on Monday before the Brussels Assize Court.
Severe sentences requested
The presiding judge of the Brussels Assize Court first gave the floor to prosecutors Bernard Michel and Paule Somers for their closing arguments on sentencing, mentioning for each of the eight concerned the sentence they believe the jury and the court should impose.
The prosecution asked the jury and the court to hand down very severe sentences against the eight guilty parties, in particular against the six who were co-perpetrators of the murders and attempted murders in a terrorist context.
"I think it is only right to severely punish those who attacked our society as a whole with a terrorist motive," said Federal Prosecutor Somers. "Punishment is necessary to express society's disapproval, both for society as a whole and for the victims. Every day, these victims live with the after-effects of their actions. They are the only true martyrs of these acts."
In her view, "heavy sentences" were needed in this case to "firmly punish the actions of the guilty parties." She recalled the essential rights of the right to life and respect for democracy, and also quoted a victim who had declared: "I hope that this trial will set an example so that this does not happen again".
Accused Salah Abdeslam pictured on the first day of the terror attacks trial. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
The hearing will then be adjourned until Tuesday to allow for a civil summary trial involving Abdeslam, one of the eight men facing a life sentence. The Brussels Civil Court must urgently examine a request from Abdeslam's lawyers, who are asking the judge to rule that the transfer of their client from Belgium to France, which is due to take place at the end of the terror trial, is illegal.
On 29 June 2022, Abdelsam was sentenced by the Paris court to an incompressible life sentence for his role in the 13 November 2015 attacks in the French capital. He was then transferred to a Belgian prison so that he could appear at the terror trials in Haren. In theory, Abdeslam should return to France to serve the prison sentence there.
The federal prosecutors' closing arguments will resume on Tuesday morning when the lawyers of the eight guilty parties will take to the floor.
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The lawyers will present any mitigating circumstances on behalf of their clients, so as to reduce the sentence below the minimum provided by law for the established offences and crimes. They will also talk about their clients' backgrounds, personalities, future prospects, any regrets they may have or responsibilities they may have taken on, and any chances they may have of reintegrating into society.
The guilty parties will have the last chance to speak, after which the jury will enter into deliberation with the president of the court and her two assessor judges. In all, the debates and deliberations are expected to last two weeks.
