Radio Host and Victim’s Partner Deliver Emotional Testimony in Falzone Trial
The Hainaut Assize Court heard two powerful testimonies on Tuesday as the trial of Paolo and Antonino Falzone continued at Lotto Mons Expo. Fabrice Collignon, a well-known radio host on RTL Belgium who narrowly escaped death, and Pasqualina Salandra, the partner of victim Frédéric Cicero, both took the stand in the high-profile case stemming from the Strépy-Bracquegnies carnival tragedy of March 2022.
Background: The Strépy-Bracquegnies Tragedy
On 20 March 2022, at approximately 5:00 AM, a black BMW Series 5 driven by Paolo Falzone plowed into a crowd of 150–200 people participating in the traditional “ramassage des Gilles” carnival procession in Strépy-Bracquegnies, a section of La Louvière in Hainaut Province. The vehicle was traveling at approximately 174 km/h (108 mph) in a 50 km/h zone. The driver had been filming on his phone moments before impact and had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Seven people were killed and 38 others injured.
Paolo Falzone now faces seven counts of murder and 81 counts of attempted murder. His passenger, Antonino “Nino” Falzone (no family relation), is charged with failure to render aid to a person in danger. The trial, which began on 4 May 2026, is expected to last approximately two months.
Fabrice Collignon: “I Had a Little Star Above Me”
Fabrice Collignon, a presenter on RTL Belgium, testified as a civil party witness. He was participating in the Gilles gathering on the morning of the tragedy, describing the atmosphere as “festive” — it was the first carnival organized in the Centre region after the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to RTBF, Collignon recounted his narrow escape with the words: “I had a little star above me.” He was exchanging with other participants when he heard “the noise,” clung to a tree, and described the sound as “infernal” as people fell. “What happened in two seconds?” he asked the court in disbelief.
Collignon went home in a state of shock before returning to the scene. He described lasting psychological trauma: the next day, seeing a black BMW behind his car made him “tremble” even though the driver was driving normally. He confirmed that therapy “did a lot of good.” In a separate interview, he reflected on King Philippe’s visit to the scene, stating: “The king’s visit allowed us to put a word on what we experienced: horror.”
Pasqualina Salandra: “That Day, He Took Everything from Me”
The most emotionally charged testimony came from Pasqualina Salandra, the partner of Frédéric Cicero, one of the seven deceased victims. A nurse by profession, Salandra was herself severely injured in the crash — suffering fractures to her nose and left foot, cervical lesions, and swallowing problems. She narrowly avoided leg amputation and spent weeks bedridden in hospital.
La Libre reported that Salandra’s last memory was seeing Fred go to his car. She woke up a week later in hospital, where her sister-in-law informed her of Frédéric’s death. She described him as an educator at a school in Frameries who had aspirations to become a school director — “intelligent, hardworking, and appreciated by all.” He was also a dedicated youth sports coach, managing nearly 300 children at the Manage club.
Salandra spoke of the devastating impact on their son, now seven years old, who was just three at the time of the tragedy. “It’s complicated for our son who woke up one morning learning that his dad was no longer there, while his mom was in a coma,” she told the court, as reported by DH Net. “Every year, my child goes to his father’s grave to leave his Father’s Day gift.”
Her most devastating words captured the totality of her loss: “That day, he took everything from me: my man, my work, my role as a woman, and my role as a mother.”
A Rare Moment of Human Connection
At the end of her testimony, Salandra asked what Paolo Falzone does when he goes home after court. The presiding judge relayed the question: “What do you do? Do you kiss your partner? Do you go see your son?” The accused nodded. According to Antenne Centre, Paolo Falzone then offered his apologies: “You have a lot of courage, madam, and I offer you my most sincere apologies.”
The presiding judge made an unusually personal remark, telling Salandra: “I think I can say, Madam, that you are a model of courage.”
What’s Next
The trial continues with further witness testimony expected in the coming weeks. A “Challenge Fred Cicero” has been created in memory of the victim, who was deeply involved in youth sports coaching. The case has become one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in Belgium, drawing attention to road safety and the devastating consequences of reckless driving.
For Salandra, who hopes to return to her nursing profession after flirting with death and the amputation of a leg, the trial represents a painful but necessary step toward closure. As she told the court, her focus remains on raising her son “without feelings of hatred or vengeance.”