Moroccan-Belgian Man Gets 6 Years for Attempted Murder of Ex’s New Boyfriend

Born in a Spanish enclave in Morocco to a Flemish father and a Moroccan mother, Corentin, who arrived in Belgium at the age of 12 without really mastering French, is caught up in his past. He was involved in a fight that nearly cost the life of a young Brussels resident. The scene takes place on November 14, 2020 on Rue des Muscadins in La Louvière. He assaults the boyfriend of his former girlfriend and breaks one of his ribs. Admitted to the hospital, the victim survives his injuries.

Three years later, the correctional court convicts the aggressor by default to six years in prison for attempted murder and one year in prison for possession of cannabis, reports La Dernière Heure. Dissatisfied with the verdict, Corentin pleaded for a suspended sentence and self-defense. The prosecution expresses its opposition. The deputy prosecutor of the king confuses him by recounting that the defendant was informed by two friends that his former girlfriend was with another young man, a Brussels resident met on social networks. "He got on a motorcycle to go and fight with his rival. He hit him, he exhibited a knife handed to him by another and he fled," explains the magistrate. A second fight breaks out after he exchanged numerous text messages with his ex-girlfriend, who wanted to settle scores and see him. Armed with a bladed weapon, he stabs the young Brussels resident.

According to Corentin’s explanations, the knife was in his rival’s pocket, and he seized it when he was trying to escape. He is much smaller and less muscular than his rival. "I was furious, I was hitting him with the knife in hand," he says. A version contradicted by the public prosecutor. According to the latter, he had kept the weapon that had been handed to him during the first fight.

The prosecution and the defense also dispute self-defense. While the prosecution is asking to confirm the six-year sentence handed down by default, the defendant’s lawyer, Forgeron, is asking for a favorable sentence for this father of young children. The verdict is expected in 14 days.