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Deathbed confession may crack case of the 'Crazy Brabant Killers' | Deathbed confession may crack case of the 'Crazy Brabant Killers' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A murder mystery that has gripped Belgium for 30 years may be on the verge of being solved after a former policeman apparently confessed on his deathbed to being one of the “Crazy Brabant Killers” – a group that killed 28 people in a string of robberies in the early 1980s. | A murder mystery that has gripped Belgium for 30 years may be on the verge of being solved after a former policeman apparently confessed on his deathbed to being one of the “Crazy Brabant Killers” – a group that killed 28 people in a string of robberies in the early 1980s. |
During a three-year spree, the Brabant Killers staged more than a dozen raids on supermarkets, hostels and a gunsmiths, during which they shot customers, staff and even children. They suddenly ceased their activities and disappeared in 1985. | |
The killers’ proficiency in handling weapons raised suspicions at the time that there was a link with the gendarmerie, a former paramilitary police force of Belgium. Conspiracy theories circulated that the group was part of an attempt by the far left or right to undermine the state. | The killers’ proficiency in handling weapons raised suspicions at the time that there was a link with the gendarmerie, a former paramilitary police force of Belgium. Conspiracy theories circulated that the group was part of an attempt by the far left or right to undermine the state. |
The group, usually comprising three disguised men known as “the Giant”, “the Killer” and a getaway driver, “the Old Man” – would at times take just petty cash and low-value goods, yet would be content to gun down anyone in their way. | |
Officials have confirmed they believe they are close to finally identifying the criminals after the brother of a retired policeman in Aalst, near Brussels, came forward to claim his dying sibling had confessed two years ago to being the Giant, the suspected ringleader. | Officials have confirmed they believe they are close to finally identifying the criminals after the brother of a retired policeman in Aalst, near Brussels, came forward to claim his dying sibling had confessed two years ago to being the Giant, the suspected ringleader. |
“In the beginning I was in denial because I really struggled with it,” the unnamed man told the broadcaster VTM. “But today I can say formally that this is my brother.” | “In the beginning I was in denial because I really struggled with it,” the unnamed man told the broadcaster VTM. “But today I can say formally that this is my brother.” |
The Belgian justice minister, Koen Geens, is to address a committee of the Belgian federal parliament about the development. | The Belgian justice minister, Koen Geens, is to address a committee of the Belgian federal parliament about the development. |
The suspect, named only as Christiaan B, was dismissed from the Diana Group, an elite police commando unit, in 1981. | The suspect, named only as Christiaan B, was dismissed from the Diana Group, an elite police commando unit, in 1981. |
His brother’s lawyer has suggested the suspect was sacked from the force after his gun accidentally unloaded, and he was deeply bitter about the career-ending incident, drinking heavily until his death in 2015. | His brother’s lawyer has suggested the suspect was sacked from the force after his gun accidentally unloaded, and he was deeply bitter about the career-ending incident, drinking heavily until his death in 2015. |
Local media have been comparing wanted posters from the time with photographs of the tall man being accused of the crimes. | Local media have been comparing wanted posters from the time with photographs of the tall man being accused of the crimes. |
The last appearance of the group, which operated in the Brabant province around Brussels, was in November 1985 when they burst into a supermarket in Aalst firing pump-action shotguns. Eight people were killed in the raid, including people cowering on the floor and a nine-year-old girl waiting in a car outside. | The last appearance of the group, which operated in the Brabant province around Brussels, was in November 1985 when they burst into a supermarket in Aalst firing pump-action shotguns. Eight people were killed in the raid, including people cowering on the floor and a nine-year-old girl waiting in a car outside. |
It was believed at the time that the group member known as the Killer was fatally wounded by police in that raid, although a body was never recovered. | It was believed at the time that the group member known as the Killer was fatally wounded by police in that raid, although a body was never recovered. |
Ignacio de la Serna, the prosecutor general for the southern city of Mons, told the AFP news wire that the new information was being taken very seriously. He added: “There is now a big push to advance following these revelations.” | |
Patricia Finne, a daughter of one of the 28 victims, described the news as “the first really serious revelation in 30 years”. She told Belgian media: “I really hope that this will lead to dismantling the rest of the gang, whether they are dead or not.” | Patricia Finne, a daughter of one of the 28 victims, described the news as “the first really serious revelation in 30 years”. She told Belgian media: “I really hope that this will lead to dismantling the rest of the gang, whether they are dead or not.” |
One of the group’s most infamous moments was in a grocery at Nivelles in 1983, when they killed a couple who stopped at an all-night fuel station next door and then shot police officers arriving at the scene. | One of the group’s most infamous moments was in a grocery at Nivelles in 1983, when they killed a couple who stopped at an all-night fuel station next door and then shot police officers arriving at the scene. |