Court Reconstructs Murder of Ghent OCMW Worker
A Belgian court conducted a judicial reconstruction on Friday of the murder of Erik Boone, a 56-year-old OCMW (Public Social Welfare Center) social worker who was fatally stabbed during a home visit in Ghent last August. The reconstruction, held at the crime scene in the Kikvorsstraat in the Nieuw Gent neighborhood, marks a critical step in the legal proceedings against the suspect, 39-year-old Anasse S.
According to VRT NWS, the reconstruction began in the morning and was attended by judicial authorities and legal representatives. The victim’s parents did not attend, finding the prospect too painful.
A Difficult Day for Survivors
Prominent Belgian lawyer Jef Vermassen attended the reconstruction on behalf of Boone’s parents. “Going themselves is too heavy,” Vermassen said. “Their expectations for today are therefore tempered. They are not looking forward to it, but they do want to know what happened. Hopefully the suspect will tell the truth.”
Vermassen described the reconstruction as a particularly challenging moment for the family. “During such a reconstruction, the intention is for the suspect to give his perspective, explain what happened, how, and why. That can be harsh. The parents are therefore also afraid of what they will learn,” he told VRT NWS.
The Murder and Investigation
The killing occurred on August 13, 2025, when Boone was conducting routine home visits in the Nieuw Gent social housing district. He failed to appear for his second scheduled visit, prompting the OCMW to alert police in the evening. Officers found Boone’s body at the apartment of his last visit in the Kikvorsstraat. He had been killed with multiple stab wounds.
As VRT NWS reported at the time, the suspect — the resident of the apartment where the murder took place — fled the scene but was later arrested in the Brugse Poort neighborhood of Ghent. Surveillance camera footage showed him withdrawing money near the Belfry and Stadshal shortly after the crime.
The Suspect and Psychiatric Questions
Anasse S., a 39-year-old man of Syrian origin who had been living in Belgium for several years, was not previously known to police or justice authorities. However, investigators revealed that he had a psychiatric history and had been hospitalized in psychiatric facilities multiple times. During initial questioning, he exercised his right to remain silent and did not provide a statement about his motive.
The investigating judge appointed a panel of experts to assess the suspect’s mental state at the time of the crime and afterward. According to the investigation, the suspect was found to be criminally responsible (toerekeningsvatbaar), but the Ghent Council Chamber (raadkamer) must still decide whether the case will proceed to trial or whether the suspect will be interned in a psychiatric facility.
National Outrage and Lasting Impact
The murder sparked a wave of indignation across Belgium. Social workers in Ghent and other cities temporarily stopped conducting home visits in protest and concern for their safety. A tribute at the OCMW office in Nieuw Gent drew approximately 1,000 attendees.
The case prompted significant policy changes. In December 2025, a new law was passed allowing OCMW clients who threaten, insult, or assault workers to lose their living allowance (leefloon). Home visit protocols were revised, and in March 2026, Ghent launched a pilot project for wearable panic buttons for OCMW workers and other city staff in contact professions.
A Lasting Legacy
Erik Boone, described by colleagues as kind, gentle, and the most experienced member of his team, received significant posthumous recognition. Knack magazine named him Person of the Year (Mens van het Jaar) for 2025. In March 2026, HOGENT University College — where Boone studied social work — named a quiet room after him during a study day attended by over 500 people, including his family and colleagues.
What’s Next
The reconstruction may provide crucial evidence about the motive and circumstances of the murder. Following this step, the Ghent Council Chamber will decide whether the suspect will face trial or be interned. The outcome will depend heavily on the psychiatric evidence and any statements made during the reconstruction.
As Vermassen noted, the family hopes for answers. “Hopefully the suspect will tell the truth,” he said — a sentiment shared by a nation that has followed this case closely since that tragic August evening.