Zeebrugge Remembers Herwin (56) Killed by Russian Truckers One Year On

The coastal community of Zeebrugge gathered on Friday evening to commemorate Herwin Alleman (56), who was beaten to death on the street exactly one year ago by two Russian truck drivers. About 50 friends and relatives walked to the spot in the Mercatorstraat where Alleman died, laid flowers, and placed a portrait of him, according to VRT NWS.

“What happened here last year, we must never forget,” said Jeroen Naudts, a good friend of Alleman and co-organizer of the memorial. “We speak out against senseless violence, here and everywhere in the world.”

The Attack

On the evening of August 22, 2025, Alleman and his wife Sandra were walking home after attending a neighborhood party on the beach. A discussion broke out in a night shop between the couple and two Russian truck drivers. The two men followed them and attacked Alleman from behind in the Mercatorstraat, near the Stella Mariskerk, delivering multiple punches and kicks. He died at the scene despite resuscitation attempts by bystanders and emergency services, as VRT NWS reported at the time.

“I was still watching TV and suddenly heard shouting and yelling,” recalled witness Jacques Rassauw, who lived across from the scene. “When I came to the window, I saw someone lying on the ground - or rather slumped against the facade. He was not moving anymore.”

The Manhunt and Arrests

The two suspects - Borys N. (45) and Artur D. (33), both Russian truck drivers working for a Hungarian branch of an international transport company - fled the scene. An international alert was spread on August 24 with camera images from the night shop, distributed via Europol and leading to more than 100 tips.

The suspects were arrested on August 26 on the A2 highway near Skierniewice, Poland, about 80 km from Warsaw, just before they could cross the border. They had abandoned their trucks and attempted to sabotage the trackers before fleeing through France and Germany in a blue Audi, as Focus-WTV detailed.

Confession and Legal Proceedings

Borys N. confessed to Polish prosecutors that he attacked the victim in a drunken state. “The victim had called me a pig,” he said. “I was angry, and the alcohol made everything worse. I hit him,” as P-magazine reported.

Artur D. initially claimed he was not present at the time of the attack, but camera images from the night shop and witnesses proved otherwise. He later confessed his share in the violence but pointed mainly to the role of his companion during the reconstruction of the facts held on March 3, 2026, according to Focus-WTV.

Poland agreed to extradite both suspects to Belgium. Borys N. was brought before the investigating judge in Bruges on September 11, 2025, and detained on suspicion of murder. Artur D. was arrested by the Bruges investigating judge on September 16, 2025, after his extradition. Both have had their pre-trial detention extended multiple times by the Bruges council chamber, most recently in July 2026 for Borys N. and April 2026 for Artur D.

The Widow Speaks

For the first time since the murder, Sandra Badts (56), the widow of Herwin Alleman, spoke publicly about the attack. “Why? I hope to get an answer to that question someday,” she told KW.be. “That look in their eyes… Sometimes I still have nightmares about it. It took a long time before I dared to go out on the street alone again.”

Community Response

The murder left a deep impression on the Zeebrugge community. Days after Alleman’s death, 300 to 500 people gathered for a silent march (wake) in Zeebrugge, following the route the victim took with his wife before the attack. It was a silent protest against senseless violence, as VRT NWS reported. The community also raised 7,000 euros for the victim’s funeral.

During the wake, organizers highlighted the situation of foreign truck drivers forced to spend weekends in the area with few facilities, leading to issues such as drunkenness, public urination, illegal dumping, and occasional fights. They called for more police presence on the streets, especially on weekends.

What’s Next

The judicial investigation is still ongoing, with both suspects in pre-trial detention. The organizers of the memorial want to make it an annual tradition. “At the same time, this is also an opportunity for us to keep the memory of Herwin alive,” said Jeroen Naudts. “He was well known here and was a good friend to many. It feels good to come together with everyone who knew him and share memories. That’s how Herwin stays in our thoughts.”