Strépy Trial: Prosecutor Seeks Heavy Sentence for Falzone

The trial for the Strépy-Bracquegnies carnival tragedy entered a pivotal phase on 29 May 2026 as civil party attorneys delivered their closing arguments before the Cour d’Assises du Hainaut, urging the jury to convict Paolo Falzone on seven counts of murder. The case, which has gripped Belgium for over four years, stems from the 20 March 2022 incident when a BMW driven by Falzone plowed into a crowd of carnival participants at approximately 174 km/h, killing seven people and injuring 38 others.

The Tragedy

In the early morning of 20 March 2022, during the traditional “ramassage des Gilles” — a cherished carnival tradition in Strépy-Bracquegnies, a section of La Louvière in the province of Hainaut — Paolo Falzone, then 32, drove his black BMW Series 5 into a crowd of 150 to 200 people on Rue des Canadiens. According to RTBF, Falzone was filming himself on his phone to create a social media “story” moments before the impact. His blood alcohol level was 0.67‰, above the legal limit of 0.5‰.

Six people died on the day of the incident. A seventh victim, schoolteacher Christine Chavrepierre, succumbed to her injuries in September 2024 after being hospitalized since the crash.

Closing Arguments: “A Car Is a Weapon”

Lead civil party attorney Me Jean-Philippe Mayence, who previously represented victims of the 2016 Brussels attacks, delivered a powerful, hours-long closing argument on 29 May. His central thesis was that this was no traffic accident but a deliberate act of violence.

Citing established case law from 2000, Mayence argued: “He who, knowingly, implements means that normally must cause death, has no other intention than to kill.” He told the jury that Falzone’s actions — driving at extreme speed into a crowd while filming — clearly demonstrated intent.

“A car is a weapon. And a crowd is people,” Mayence declared in court, as reported by RTL Info.

Dramatic Courtroom Moments

Mayence employed several dramatic techniques to underscore his arguments. He placed seven candles in the courtroom to represent each victim. He physically rang carnival bells — known as “apertintaille” — to demonstrate that Falzone must have heard them and known people were present. In a particularly striking moment, he held 22 seconds of silence to illustrate the time Falzone had to decide whether to stop or run over Frédéric D’Andrea, a “gille” in traditional costume who was on the car’s hood.

Addressing Falzone directly, Mayence said: “Your disdain, and your lies are so many spits in their face!” He accused the defendant of lying about speed, phone use, visibility, and whether he saw victims’ bodies — including Salvatore Imperiale, whose body was partially inside the vehicle after the crash.

Co-counsel Me Elena D’Agristina also addressed the court, stating: “I am intimately convinced that this is attempted murder and that Mr. Paolo Falzone at all times made his choices. Very specific choices that were solely in his interest.”

Victim Impact

Victims’ families responded positively to the prosecution’s arguments. Véronique Bonenfant, mother of a victim, told RTL Info: “She clearly showed that, from the beginning, they lied and tried to make us bear responsibility for the tragedy because we were in their way.”

What Comes Next

The trial, which began on 4 May 2026 at Lotto Mons Expo in Mons, is expected to last approximately two months. Defense attorneys for both Paolo Falzone and co-defendant Antonino Falzone — the passenger who claims he was asleep at the time of impact — have yet to present their closing arguments.

Following all arguments, the 12-member jury will deliberate and answer a series of questions about each charge. If convicted of murder, Paolo Falzone faces a potential life sentence. Belgian law provides for sentences of 20 to 30 years or life imprisonment for murder convictions.

The case has drawn significant public attention in Belgium, both for its devastating toll and the legal questions it raises about when reckless driving crosses the line from accident to intentional homicide.