The Hainaut Assize Court sentenced Salvatore Di Perri (50) to seven years in prison on Wednesday for the killing of his brother Silvano (32) in Wodecq (Ellezelles).
Both the jury and the court found mitigating circumstances in favour of the accused.
On 18 June 2023, the brothers got into a violent argument during a family gathering at the parental home in Rue Neuve, where the victim lived.
Silvano woke up around 1 p.m that day to discover that his cannabis plant, which he had grown in a pot on the terrace, had been damaged the previous day.
His father Giuseppe had destroyed the plant in anger that a drug plant was being grown in his house. When Silvano lashed out at his father, scolding him and threatening him with his fists, Salvatore intervened.
Silvano was taken to the terrace by another brother, Sandro, and their cousin Luigi.
Salvatore subsequently grabbed a knife from the kitchen, walked out and stabbed his brother in the heart. Silvano died a few hours later at Lille University Hospital.
Salvatore denied that he had intended to kill his brother, but the jury ruled that he did. The excuse of incitement was also not accepted. However, mitigating circumstances were granted.
The De Perri family supported Salvatore and some relatives saw Silvano's death as a relief because he was a drug and alcohol addict, as well as violent.
Silvano had several convictions, and local police had already issued about 100 reports for his behaviour.
