Two men who watched a 53-year-old die from drowning after falling into the water during the Gentse Feesten festival in 2022 appeared on Monday before the Ghent Criminal Court.
The men, both Dutch nationals, are being tried for manslaughter.
The public prosecutor announced at the court on Monday that he is seeking prison terms of 18 and 30 months respectively and a fine of €800. The heavier sentence is for the man suspected of pushing the victim - who could not swim - into the water.
The body of the victim, Hakim Mutyaba, was found on the Lousberskaai on 17 July 2022. The two Dutch men, aged 25 and 23 at the time, were quickly identified by surveillance cameras. They were arrested in the Netherlands and handed over to Belgium, where they spent some time in pre-trial detention before being conditionally released.
The younger defendant is suspected of pushing the victim into the water, while the other is accused of being present at the time of the incident. Both are charged with manslaughter and culpable negligence, while the younger man is also charged with assault causing death.
Judgement is expected on 2 December.
