Liège, Belgium – A 42-year-old former professional footballer has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Liège Criminal Court for the rape of a young female student in her flat in Liège.
The verdict was handed down on Wednesday, more than five years after the violent assault took place. The incident occurred on the evening of April 24, 2019, in a student accommodation building in the heart of the city.
According to court proceedings, the victim’s neighbours were alarmed by her desperate cries for help and attempted to force their way into her flat.
Inside, the young woman was being strangled by the attacker. Before the door could be broken down, the man fled the scene.
The suspect, whose name has not been publicly released to protect the victim’s identity, was later identified by one of the neighbours who witnessed his escape. Police launched an investigation immediately, and DNA evidence collected from the victim ultimately confirmed his identity.
The court heard that the victim had encountered the man earlier that day on the street. What began as a seemingly casual interaction quickly escalated into violence. The man forced his way into her flat and raped her, all while physically assaulting and attempting to strangle her.
The traumatic event left the young woman deeply shaken. She provided a detailed account to investigators, which was further corroborated by forensic evidence and witness testimonies from neighbours who had attempted to intervene.
Prosecutors described the attack as brutal and premeditated, pointing to the use of physical force and the attempt to flee the scene as aggravating factors.
Despite the severity of the crime, the case suffered from an “excessive delay” in reaching the courtroom, something the presiding judge acknowledged during the sentencing.
Nevertheless, the court stressed the seriousness of the offense and handed down a four-year custodial sentence, a decision that reflects both the gravity of the assault and the harm caused to the victim.
The ruling brings a measure of closure to a case that has loomed over the local community for years. Women’s rights advocates and legal experts have long raised concerns about the delays in handling cases of sexual violence in Belgium, citing the need for more efficient judicial processes to ensure timely justice.
The victim has chosen to remain anonymous, but her lawyer said she is relieved by the court’s decision and hopes the sentencing will allow her to begin healing.
“It’s a difficult day, but also a necessary one,” the lawyer stated. “My client has carried the weight of this trauma for years, and today, justice has finally been served.”
The former footballer, who had no prior criminal record, is expected to begin serving his sentence immediately. He has not issued any public statement and did not express remorse during the trial, according to reports from inside the courtroom.
This case underscores the continuing need for vigilance, support for victims of sexual violence, and prompt legal responses to ensure such crimes are addressed with the seriousness they warrant.
